the latest research available online
Dry mouth, or xerostomia, is worse than just the feeling we get when we’re thirsty. It’s a chronic condition among some elderly people, smokers, and people with certain systemic diseases. Some medications bring on xerostomia. In particular, xerostomia is a side effect of radiation and chemotherapy for cancer treatment. Altogether, approximately 27 percent of the ... Read more
Antioxidants, the large, complex molecules that neutralize free radicals, are very specific in the types of oxidant molecules they neutralize and the tissues on which they are effective. For decades, scientists have explored the sources of antioxidants, how they work, and how best to use them in human health. The growing attention to the links ... Read more
Antioxidants are emerging as a vital roadway to health. They are clearing the path of free radicals and oxidative stress, fighting inflammation, and carrying the torch for oral and systemic health. There are several thousand antioxidants, including enzymes, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients and compounds. Some antioxidants are produced within the body; others must be ... Read more
As scientists, doctors and dental professionals continue to explore the links between disease, inflammation and oxidative stress, it seems logical that maintaining a good balance of oxidants and antioxidants in oral tissues is important for oral health as well as systemic health. The question becomes, “What is the best way to supplement antioxidants?” A quick ... Read more
Disease in the oral cavity, especially periodontal disease, is largely the result of infection. Killing off the pathogens is only part of the treatment oral disease, but the challenge remains of eliminating inflammation—which has been shown to be the common bad actor in in oral and systemic disease and may in fact be the link ... Read more
For the patient in the dentist’s chair, saliva is little more than a nuisance—a potential cause of drowning or embarrassment from drooling. But this humble bodily fluid is essential for oral health and for systemic health as well. Saliva is 98 percent water. The remaining 2 percent is made of proteins, electrolytes, enzymes, hormones, and ... Read more