Reducing post-op complications after cancer surgery

Improving patients’ oral hygiene is an option for preventing postoperative pneumonia that may be caused by aspiration of oral secretions. Whether preoperative oral care by a dentist can decrease postoperative complications remains controversial. A retrospective study was undertaken to assess the association between preoperative oral care and postoperative complications among …

Midlife Tooth Loss Associated With Higher Risk Of Cardiovascular Disease

Medical News Today reported that preliminary research found “tooth loss in middle age is tied to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, independent of traditional risk factors such as high blood pressure, poor diet, and diabetes.” Study co-author Lu Qi, who is a professor of epidemiology at Tulane University, said, …

Dry Mouth and Gum Disease Among Dental Problems Adults Over 50 May Experience

With well over 400 medications having a side effect of dry mouth, the number of adults taking medications and suffering from dry mouth issues has risen dramatically over the past 10 years, but often goes unaddressed by dental and medical offices. The results can be disastrous and expensive! The Huffington …

NIH: Differences Between Those Who Floss And Those Who Don’t Can Be “Striking”

In its November newsletter, the National Institutes Of Health (11/1) states that although news stories have questioned the benefits of dental flossing due to lacking research, dentists have “seen the teeth and gums of people who floss regularly and those who haven’t,” and “the differences can be striking.” The article …

Researchers Developing Fillings That Help Teeth Regenerate

Newsweek reports scientists from the University of Nottingham and Harvard University are developing regenerative dental fillings that “allow teeth to heal themselves,” which could ultimately make some root canals unnecessary. The treatment works by “stimulating stem cells to encourage the growth of dentin—the bony material that makes up the majority …