Reuters (8/28, Crist) reports a study published in the British Journal of Surgery found that patients who are undergoing “major cancer surgery might reduce their risk of complications by seeing a dentist beforehand.” The researchers discovered that patients “who visited a dentist were slightly less likely to have post-surgery pneumonia …
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 …
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, …
Sipping acidic drinks such as fruit teas and flavored water can wear away teeth and damage the enamel, an investigation by scientists has shown. The King’s College London team found that drinking them between meals and savoring them for too long increased the risk of tooth erosion from acid. The …
Brushing and flossing are everyday ways to keep your teeth bright, white and healthy. Still, if you might feel like your smile is lacking some sparkle or is more yellow than it used to be, you’re not alone. When the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry asked people what they’d most like to improve about their …
Why would a tooth hurt? If you’re like most, you understand the obvious causes, such as decay and tooth breakage. But there are many, many causes for tooth pain … and to make matters worse, not only is is not always a problem with a tooth, it can be referred …
“Instead, it’s more due to what you eat, your lifestyle, and your diet.”
The NPR (8/14, Neighmond) “Shots” blog notes that consuming coffee, tea, and red wine may stain teeth, although tooth discoloration may also stem from tobacco use, age, and trauma. Brushing, flossing, and regular dental visits can help with surface stains, but bleaching may be necessary to address deeper stains. When …
One of the disturbing trends in recent years has been the number of people feeling like they can’t – and therefore don’t – take time off from work for preventive health visits, both medical AND dental. At first, I thought that this was merely an economic concern, since the economy …
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 …
