Tag Archives: dental care

Poor oral health may increase the risk of pancreatic cancer among African American women

29 Friday Mar 2019

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(Boston)– African American women with poor oral health may be more likely to get pancreatic cancer (PC).

In the U.S., studies show that African Americans are more likely to get pancreatic cancer than Caucasians. Poor oral health, specifically adult tooth loss and periodontal disease prevalence, has a similar pattern. Using data from the Black Women’s Health Study, researchers from the Slone Epidemiology Center at Boston University found that compared to African American women who showed no signs of poor oral health, those who reported adult tooth loss had a substantially increased risk of PC. This association become even stronger for those who had lost at least five teeth.

According to the researchers, these observations may be related to oral bacteria and the inflammation caused by certain bacteria. In previous studies among different populations the presence of circulating antibodies to selected oral periodontal pathogens was associated with increased risk of PC.

“Oral health is a modifiable factor. Apart from avoiding cigarette smoking, there is little an individual can do to reduce risk of PC. Improving access to low cost, high quality dental care for all Americans may decrease racial disparities in this cancer,” said Julie Palmer, ScD, associate director of BU’s Slone Epidemiology Center and a professor of epidemiology at BUSPH.

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These findings appear online in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.

This work was supported in part by the National Institutes of Health grants NCI U01CA187508 (J.R. Palmer, H. Gerlovin, D.S. Michaud), NCI R01CA098663 (J.R. Palmer, Y.C. Cozier) and NCI U01CA164974 (J.R. Palmer, H. Gerlovin, Y.C. Cozier).

Read more via: https://eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-03/buso-poh032619.php

Tooth Wizard Teaches Scott Elementary Students How to Fight Tooth Decay – Herald Publications

26 Friday Oct 2018

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Tooth Wizard Teaches Scott Elementary Students How to Fight Tooth Decay

| October 25, 2018 | 0 

 

SCOTT AFB – Poor oral health and tooth decay can cause discomfort and result in young students having difficulty participating or concentrating in school. Nearly 40 percent of children in Illinois have had a cavity in the past year, and about one in five kids in Illinois has untreated tooth decay.1 To help kids learn about the importance of good oral health and how to fight decay, Tooth Wizard and PlaqueMan, characters from the Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation’s Land of Smiles program, visited students at Scott Elementary School on Oct. 18.
Although largely preventable with good oral health habits, the U.S. Surgeon General identifies tooth decay as the most common chronic childhood disease. Illinois children’s oral health habits could use improvement. According to the 2018 Delta Dental of Illinois Children’s Oral Health Survey, more than 43 percent of Illinois children brush their teeth once a day or less and nearly three-quarters floss their teeth less than once a day.2

“Our recent Children’s Oral Health Survey shows that Illinois children can greatly benefit from oral health education, which is a part of our mission,” said Lora Vitek, director of philanthropy and community relations, Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation. “Land of Smiles helps children learn about the importance of taking care of their teeth in a fun way. By teaching them why brushing, flossing and using mouthwash with fluoride should be parts of their daily routine, we hope to reduce the number of young children with cavities or poor oral health.”
Scott Elementary students began their oral health journey by helping the heroic Tooth Wizard defeat his arch nemesis, PlaqueMan, by learning the habits needed to have healthy smiles and bodies. Children got involved in the fun during the interactive performance, helping demonstrate how to correctly brush, floss and use fluoride rinse, which caused PlaqueMan to scurry off the stage in defeat. The free Land of Smiles program also taught children the importance of eating smile-friendly foods, visiting the dentist regularly and having sealants applied.
The Land of Smiles program seeks to combat poor oral health. The Oral Health in Illinois report, released in 2016 and sponsored by Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation and others, found that poor oral health is one of the most pressing, unmet health care issues facing Illinois children – particularly for those living in poverty and rural areas. In fact, the report found that one-third of Illinois children in rural areas have untreated tooth decay, and Illinois children living in poverty are five times more likely to have fair or poor oral health.3
“Prevention is key to reducing and eliminating tooth decay,” said Vitek. “Oral health education provided by the Land of Smiles program helps children keep their smiles healthy to prevent tooth decay in the first place, so they can avoid missing school due to oral health problems.”
In addition to the oral health lesson, children who participated in Land of Smiles received an oral health kit with a toothbrush, toothpaste, floss and a booklet packed with oral health tips. The school also received a curriculum kit to help educators reinforce good oral health habits with students throughout the year.
In 2018, the Land of Smiles program will reach nearly 38,000 pre-kindergarten through third-grade students in nearly 175 Illinois elementary schools throughout the state. The program has reached over 330,000 students at more than 800 Illinois schools in the past 10 years.
For those interested in requesting a Land of Smiles appearance at their school, visit landofsmilesil.org.
About Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation – 0The Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation was formed in March 2008 by Delta Dental of Illinois, a not-for-profit dental service corporation with a mission to improve the oral health of the communities it serves. Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation is the 501(c)(3) charitable arm of Delta Dental of Illinois and works to support and improve the oral health of people in Illinois. In the past decade, combined efforts of Delta Dental of Illinois and Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation have provided more than $5 million to programs in Illinois that improve the oral health of the residents.

Why just using a normal toothbrush is not enough :Dental Tribune USA

21 Tuesday Aug 2018

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landis refining, dental industry, kids, cleaning kids teethWhen we think about keeping our teeth and gums healthy, what comes to mind for many of us is a gentle toothbrush, a good brushing technique and some fluoride-containing toothpaste. True, these are the main ingredients in keeping the largest part of our teeth and gums healthy. However, as our understanding of the oral flora progresses, we have come to realise that conventional brushing methods still fail to access a neglected part of the mouth: the interdental space.

The interdental space is the most inaccessible and vulnerable part of the mouth and as such the perfect place for disease-causing bacteria and plaque to accumulate and cause eventual damage to the teeth, periodontium and gingivae. Even more so than dental floss, mouthwash and the bristles of conventional toothbrushes, interdental brushes have proven to be the most effective tool in removing virulent bacteria from these spaces between our teeth.

“In a 2017 study, we managed to collect over 16 billion virulent bacteria from each interdental space in young, healthy adults using interdental brushes, proving them to be the most efficient tool for cleaning interdentally,” said Prof. Denis Bourgeois, dean of the University of Lyon’s dental faculty in France, and a pioneer in research on oral prophylaxis, interdental biofilm management and interdental brushing techniques. Unfortunately, the use of interdental brushes has not yet become commonplace.

Bourgeois continued, “Interdental brushes are relatively new. The same way dentists in the 1950s had to explain to their patients that brushing their teeth with a normal brush is necessary, people nowadays need to be informed that brushing interdentally is just as important. Both historically and traditionally, dental floss has been the tool of choice for cleaning narrow spaces, as it has been somewhat of a market leader, as well as the only way to access the interdental space for people with healthy gums. However, using dental floss is no longer preferred as, unlike using interdental brushes, its use is not supported by conclusive scientific evidence. And, with today’s fine interdental brushes, we have the most efficient means to access 98 per cent of all interdental spaces in healthy people!”

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7 Options for Affordable Dental Care | Family Finance | US News

27 Friday Jul 2018

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landis refining, dental industry, brushing teeth, cleaning teeth, dental careIf you don’t have dental care coverage provided through work, you may be hesitant to buy individual coverage, with premiums reaching nearly $100 a month or more for some family plans. That may be why 74 million Americans didn’t have dental coverage at the end of 2016, according to the National Association of Dental Plans.

What’s more, even those with Medicaid may need to pay for care since many states don’t include adult dental benefits as part of their plans. Most policies also have caps that can be as low as $1,000 on benefits and pay only a portion of the cost for crowns, root canals and similar procedures. That means those who have a dental emergency or require extensive work could find themselves facing bills for thousands of dollars, even if they have insurance.

 

“It’s quite expensive, and it doesn’t cover much,” says Sharona Hoffman, professor of law and bioethics at the Case Western Reserve University School of Law in Cleveland.

Without coverage, people may skip annual cleanings, which can be crucial for detecting dental problems early on and addressing them before they turn into expensive emergencies. Plus, poor oral health can lead to serious health problems like heart disease. If you’re lacking dental care and looking for an affordable alternative, here are seven cost-effective options.

Read more via 7 Options for Affordable Dental Care | Family Finance | US News

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More Oral Health Care Is Needed for Elderly Adults

20 Friday Jul 2018

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Topic Center: Patient Relationships

JULY 19, 2018

Kristen Crossley
A rapidly growing elderly population needs more access to oral health care services, according to a recent report.

But progress is being made in some areas to better care for aging teeth.1

The report A State of Decay, Vol. IV is the latest in a series published by Oral Health America (OHA) that surveys the state of oral health in older adults in the United States.

It found that 33% of older adults have lost 6 teeth or more, and sociodemographic factors play a critical role in oral health outcomes.1

“Tooth loss and poor oral health are not inevitable during the aging process,” Karen Tracy, vice president of strategic alliances and integrated communications for the Gerontological Society of America, said in a statement.

Education, gender, income, and race all factor into oral health care, according to the report.

Twenty-five states received poor overall scores in the report, with Wyoming, Delaware, West Virginia, New Jersey, Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Tennessee receiving the least favorable scores. Earning “excellent” scores for oral health in older adults were Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Connecticut, and Colorado.1

“Oral health for older adults is in fragile condition,” Caswell Evans, associate dean for prevention and public health sciences at University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry, said in a statement.1 “Oral health for seniors is important for their diet, nutrition, self-esteem, socialization, and freedom from pain, among many other benefits.”

Many older adults regularly use several OTC or prescription medications, or both, making them more vulnerable to adverse reactions, drug interactions, and medication errors, according to the American Dental Association (ADA).2

The most frequently taken OTC medications by older adults include analgesics, laxatives, vitamins, and minerals.2

The typical aging patient’s baseline health state can be compromised by comorbid conditions, such as diabetes mellitus and hypertension, as well as the physiological changes associated with aging.2 Dental conditions associated with aging include coronal and root caries, dry mouth, and periodontitis.2

The ADA places a “seal of approval” on many OTC oral health products, including mouth rinses and toothpastes containing fluoride, and ingredients for combating bad breath, gingivitis, and plaque, as well as for teeth whitening. The organization has also placed its seal of approval on Sensodyne toothpaste for sensitivity control and on a variety of sugar-free chewing gums that help reduce cavities.

For relief of oral discomfort, the ADA recommends Benzodent Dental Pain Relieving Cream (Focus Consumer Healthcare) and Professional Strength Kank-A Mouth Pain Liquid (Blistex).2 For a tooth that has been knocked out, the ADA has approved Save-A-Tooth (Phoenix-Lazarus), a device that keeps a tooth alive for 24 hours, until a dentist can replant it.3

In addition to OTC products for teeth, the ADA has recommendations for dentures, including adhesives and cleansers. Efferdent Anti-Bacterial Denture Cleanser (Complete Clean and Fresh & Clean), Efferdent Overnight Denture Cleanser, and Medtech Products’ Effergrip Denture Adhesive have all received the ADA seal of approval. They are joined on the ADA’s list by Adhesadent Denture Adhesive Cream (Dr. B Dental Solutions) and Fresh’n Brite Denture Cleaning Paste (Revive Personal Products).2

Adults 65 and older are expected to account for a greater patient population in dental practices in the coming years as the demographic increases in size.2 Since the OHA’s previous report, in 2016, state advocates have implemented actions based on A State of Decay findings, and more states have commissioned surveys to better measure older adults’ oral health. State oral health plans (SOHPs), such as those recently implemented in Alabama, California, Iowa, and Mississippi, have increased the percentage of people in areas served by community water fluoridation and are covering a larger number of adult dental services under Medicaid.1

In addition to SOHPs, some states, including California and Iowa, are offering support for all 13 common dental benefits for Medicaid beneficiaries 65 years and older.1 Other entities, such as the University of Alabama (UA) at Birmingham School of Dentistry, are creating local programs to enact further oral health improvements. The UA program is reaching into some of its more rural and vulnerable communities.1