Effort to boost oral health in nursing homes gets tangled up with industry's attempt to insulate itself from lawsuits; both bills die

A bill to get nursing-home residents better dental services "appears to be dead after the Senate added language from another bill designed to shield the nursing-home industry from litigation," Deborah Yetter reports for The Courier-Journal.

House Bill 510 would have created a pilot project for the state's two dental schools to create "a program to provide better oral-health services to nursing home residents," Yetter writes. "But on Wednesday, the Senate Health and Welfare Committee added language from another bill that had stalled in the House that would require people who want to file malpractice lawsuits against nursing homes to first submit the complaint to a 'medical review panel'." (Read more) 

FDA wants to reduce standard for fluoride in public drinking water

Lowering the amount of fluoride in drinking water, as proposed in January by the Food and Drug Administration, will increase medical expenses and harm the poor and the poorly educated the most, a mother writes in an op-ed piece in the New York Times.

Jane E. Brody delves into the concept of fluoridation, pointing out its benefits. "In the early years, rates of tooth decay among the young dropped by 60 percent in communities that adopted fluoridation," she writes. "Every $1 invested in fluoridation saves approximately $38 in dental treatment costs."

Though fluoride was initially thought to become incorporated into developing teeth, it was later found that its benefit is topical, meaning it works on teeth already formed. "Fluoride, which is present in saliva and concentrates in dental plaque, inhibits the action of acid on tooth minerals," she writes. "It also promotes remineralization by sticking to tooth surfaces, where it attracts calcium ions present in saliva."

Still, there remains controversy about whether or not fluoride is safe, with the substance being accused of causing everything from heart disease to Alzheimer's disease. "None of these supposed risks has ever been established in scientifically valid studies," Brody writes. "The only proven risk, a condition called fluorosis, which results in white and sometimes brownish markings on the teeth from too much fluoride, rarely results from a normal intake of fluoridated water."

Since fluoride is also available in other substances, like toothpaste, the FDA proposed reducing the amount of fluoride in public drinking water to 0.7 milligrams per liter, from a range from 0.7 to 1.2 milligrams. Brody feels the move is a mistake: "Fluoridation confers the greatest benefit to those who need it most: the poor and poorly educated and those with limited access to regular dental care," she writes. "In the years ahead, removal of fluoride from drinking water will almost certainly cost taxpayers millions of dollars in increased Medicaid expenditures." (Read more)

In Kentucky, there is 100 percent fluoridation in public drinking water systems, though perhaps half a million residents get their water from wells, springs or cisterns.

Gargle Drug, Not Substitute Tooth Brush

Gargle Drug - Brushing teeth is not yet complete it, without ending with gargling with mouthwash. Similarly, the message conveyed in advertisements mouthwash products. But, really very effective mouthwash to get rid of all bacteria?

Year 2010, the U.S. food and drug agency (Food and Drug Administration/FDA) warned on three mouthwash manufacturers to stop promoting that their products have fluoride as an active ingredient which can prevent gum disease and eliminate dental plaque.

Mouthwash really make a fresh breath in some time. The question is a breath of fresh content is generated by the killer bacteria or a strong flavor so as to cover up the smell in the mouth.

In 2008, analysis of numerous studies concludes that the two antibacterial agents are frequently used in mouthwash, ie, cetylpyridinium chloride and chlorhexidine, may reduce levels of bacteria that cause bad breath and other content in mouthwash (zinc, chlorine dioxide) could neutralize the smell of sulfur components trigger mouth.

However, mouthwashes containing chlorhexidine can only be obtained by prescription and the mostly used after oral surgery procedures.

The problem is, this material will cause the brown color of the teeth. Otherwise, it would be more products that use chlorhexidine mouthwash because this material is considered the most effective.

According Dr.Nadeem Karimbux, professor of the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, the bacteria that cause holes in teeth is different from the bacteria that cause gum disease.

Dozens of species of bacteria that cause gum disease will interact with the gum tissue causing inflammation and destroying gum tissue, including bone supporting the teeth. Brushing and flossing are the most appropriate way to get rid of plaque, although the content of antibacterial mouthwash gives a similar effect, although slightly.

The Bacteria that Causes Cavities

The Bacteria that Causes Cavities - Problem of tooth decay is one of the many diseases in humans that often occur. However, there are still many who realized that the holes in the teeth generally occurs because of transmission of bacteria called Streptococcus mutants.

Streptococcus mutants are commonly found on human teeth cavity wounds and most conducive to bacteria that cause dental caries to email.

"If at birth no bacteria Streptococcus mutants, but this is usually transmitted from mother or from friends,"

said Anton Rahardjo drg, MSM, PhD, from the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Indonesia, in Jakarta, Thursday (06/23/2011).

Streptococcus mutants is the type most likely to cause cavities throughout the world, from all the other oral streptococci. These bacteria survive from a group of different carbohydrates. When sugar is metabolized to other energy sources, microbes produce acids that cause cavities in teeth.

Age between 11-33 months, according to Anton, was a time that is prone to transmission. Thus, if the vulnerable age a child is not infected with bacteria, the future is unlikely they will run the risk of cavities.

Transmission of bacteria destroyer teeth in children, said Anton, most often due to habits of society that has not been realized. For example, when mothers give their children eat, the mother will usually be a first taste of what is cool or not. In addition, it could be because parents are often kissed her child, especially in the mouth.

According to Anton, now many studies that lead to the dental health of a person's quality of life. "When the teeth have grown, and must be taken not to hole. From a small child must have a toothbrush. Teeth hole there are three causes, carbohydrates, dental, and germs. If all three stuck to it so the hole," he said.

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Tag: Causes Cavities teeth health tooth decay Streptococcus mutants dental health