Dental plaque in moms tied to tooth decay in offspring 

New research shows that mothers with high levels of dental plaque are eight times as likely to pass on microbes that cause tooth decay to their offspring. The mother’s oral hygiene status, reflected in dental plaque accumulation, was a significant factor in determining this transmission. Other factors such as delivery method, feeding behaviors and ethnicity …

DIY Dental “Hacks” Continue To Go Viral On TikTok Despite Risks

Fox News reports that “many people have decided to forego the dentist and instead have turned to TikTok for oral care advice,” which “dentists warn can be very dangerous.” The “hashtag #DIYdentist, which has garnered over three million views on TikTok, is filled with videos sharing hacks to get perfect pearly …

Poor Periodontal Health Associated With Cognitive Decline, Dementia

HealthDay reports, “Poor periodontal health and tooth loss are associated with increased risks for cognitive decline and dementia, according to a review published online Sept. 8 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.” After conducing “a systematic review of the available longitudinal evidence,” researchers found that poor periodontal health was “associated …

Researchers Find Association Between Gum Disease, Alzheimer’s

Medical News Today reported that “a team of researchers from Tufts University has found a correlation between gum disease through the bacteria Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. nucleatum) and Alzheimer’s disease via a mouse study.” According to the article, “Scientists believe their findings may help reduce the progression of both periodontal disease …

Tooth Loss May Increase Risk Of Cognitive Impairment, Dementia

DrBicuspid  reports a new meta-analysis suggests that “tooth loss is a risk factor for cognitive impairment and dementia,” and “the risk of cognitive decline increases with each lost tooth.” Using “14 individual studies with 34,074 adults and 4,689 cases of diminished cognitive function,” the researchers found that “older adults with more …

Lead Apron Use During Imaging Exams May Be Unnecessary, Some Radiologists Say

Kaiser Health News (1/15, Jaklevic) discusses the use of lead aprons to cover “reproductive organs and fetuses during imaging exams,” stating that “new thinking among radiologists and medical physicists is upending the decades-old practice.” The article says the aprons have been used based on the idea that they shield patients …

Study: Nearly All Toddlers, And The Majority Of Babies, Eat Too Much Added Sugar In The US

CNN reports that a new analysis of national data “published Wednesday finds 98% of toddlers and two-thirds of infants consume added sugars in their diets each day.” In the study, infants aged 6 to 11 months “were typically given added sugars via flavored yogurt, baby snacks and sweet bakery products; …