News Related to Oral Health

1. Enhanced Gummy Bears Fight Cavities
   

   July 24, 2008 -- Researchers have tested gummy bears made with a sugar substitute that wards off cavity-causing bacteria. A study in Washington State gathered 154 first to fifth graders from two elementary schools. The students were given four gummy bears made with either xylitol or maltitol (types

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2. Sweetener May Cut Cavities in Kids
   

   July 9, 2008 -- Daily doses of a sweetened syrup could keep very young kids from developing cavities. Dental researchers at the University of Washington have found that toddlers who are given two or three daily spoonfuls of the sugar substitute xylitol in a fruit-flavored syrup have significantly lo

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3. FDA: Possible Risk From Dental Fillings
   

   June 5, 2008 -- Mercury from amalgam dental fillings may be toxic to children and developing fetuses, the FDA now admits. Experts say there's no proof that dental fillings cause harm to consumers. But they also say there's no proof that the fillings -- which are half mercury by weight -- are entirel

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4. Gum Disease May Raise Cancer Risk
   

   May 27, 2008 -- Men with a history of gum disease may be more likely than other men to develop cancer, a new study shows. The study included more than 48,000 male health care workers who were followed from 1986 through January 2004. When the study started, the men were asked if they had a history of

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5. New Drug Reverses Dentists' Anesthesia
   

   May 12, 2008 -- The FDA has approved OraVerse, the first drug indicated for reversing the effects of local anesthesia used by dentists. According to Novalar Pharmaceuticals, the drug company that makes OraVerse, the FDA approved OraVerse's use in adults and children based on several clinical studies

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6. FDA Warns of Allergy to Denture Cleansers
   

   Feb. 26, 2008 -- Use denture cleansers? The FDA wants you to watch for allergic reactions and make sure you use those products as directed -- and never in the mouth. The FDA says it's received 73 reports of allergic reactions, including at least one death, linked to denture cleansers. A denture clea

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7. Marijuana Linked to Early Gum Disease
   

   Feb. 5, 2008 -- Gum disease is widely considered a disease of aging, but that may not be true for young adults who smoke marijuana on a regular basis. Heavy pot use was found to be strongly associated with gum disease at age 32 in a study published in the Feb. 6 edition of The Journal of the America

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8. Magnolia Bark Extract vs. Bad Breath
   

   Nov. 16, 2007 -- Magnolia bark extract contains chemicals that kill bacteria that cause bad breath (halitosis), a new study shows. Those compounds are called magnolol and honokiol, according to the study, published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. In lab tests, magnolia bark extrac

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9. Stress May Wreak Havoc on Your Mouth
   

   Aug. 13, 2007 -- Too much stress may not only spoil your mood, it may also spoil your smile. There is mounting evidence that there’s a strong link between stress and gum disease, according to a new review of research on the issue. Researchers found 57% of recent studies reviewed showed a positive re

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10. More Chinese-Made Toothpaste Recalled
    

    Aug. 13, 2007 -- Gilchrest & Soames, a hotel toiletry supplier, today issued a worldwide recall of its complimentary toothpaste, which may contain the toxic chemical diethylene glycol (DEG). The Indianapolis-based company is recalling its Gilchrest & Soames 0.65-ounce/18-milliliter tubes of toothpas

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