https://medicalxpress.com/dentistry-news/ en-us Latest medical news and research in Dentistry Gum disease bacteria may spur calcium buildup in the heart's aortic valve, leading to a common and serious heart valve disease, according to preliminary, independent research presented at the American Heart Association's Basic Cardiovascular Sciences Scientific Sessions 2026, held in Boston, July 13–16, 2026. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-bacteria-gum-disease-inflammation-harden.html Sun, 12 Jul 2026 09:00:07 EDT news702889593 A team of researchers from VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, the VCU School of Dentistry and the University of Pennsylvania recently published a study in Nature Communications examining why some oral inflammatory diseases progress much more rapidly than others. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-oral-inflammatory-diseases-human.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 13:00:01 EDT news702822164 Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are a group of more than 30 conditions that cause pain and dysfunction in the jaw. So what could a small tissue sample from a rat's knee have to do with treating them? https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-advanced-imaging-uncovers-3d-nerve.html Tue, 07 Jul 2026 16:00:06 EDT news702654928 A paper published in the journal Biomarker Research by a cross-university team led by Queen Mary University of London researchers validates the use of a noninvasive brush biopsy test that can detect oral cancer within one hour. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-oral-cancer-hour.html Mon, 06 Jul 2026 15:00:02 EDT news702563805 Using social media can have a negative impact on adolescents' confidence about the appearance of their teeth, new research shows. University of Otago–Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka researchers have co-authored a paper, published in Health Marketing Quarterly, that recommends policymakers move away from idealized smile imagery in oral health marketing. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-social-media-affects-teen-dental.html Mon, 06 Jul 2026 11:20:04 EDT news702552781 Researchers at NYU College of Dentistry have uncovered what may be biologically driving oral health issues unique to Down syndrome. Their study, published in Cell Reports, describes a molecular mechanism—a defect in calcium signaling—behind low saliva production, along with other factors that may contribute to gum disease. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-faulty-calcium-dry-mouth-syndrome.html Wed, 01 Jul 2026 11:00:21 EDT news701970721 Periodontal (gum) disease is one of the most prevalent diseases worldwide, caused by the bacterium Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis). In Japan alone, approximately 80% of adults 30 and older are affected or considered at risk. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-cryo-em-mechanisms-dental-plaque.html Tue, 30 Jun 2026 13:20:08 EDT news702038341 Noma, a deadly, rapidly progressing, noncontagious infection that destroys the soft tissues and bones of the mouth and face, remains one of the world's most neglected diseases. With a mortality rate of 80% to 90% if left untreated, the disease mainly affects young children living in extreme poverty and was only added to the World Health Organization's list of neglected tropical diseases in 2023. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-reveals-hidden-noma-disease-nigeria.html Mon, 29 Jun 2026 23:40:01 EDT news701954847 Researchers at the University of Basel have developed a miniature dental robot that could one day automatically prepare teeth for crowns. The technology could help reduce the number of appointments needed for dental treatment. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-mini-robot-dental-treatment-teeth.html Tue, 23 Jun 2026 10:00:07 EDT news701426761 Continuous consumption of foods containing heat-inactivated Lactiplantibacillus pentosus can help reduce gum bleeding, report researchers from Institute of Science Tokyo. These postbiotic foods can improve inflammatory conditions and enhance gum health in adults with mild gingivitis. The study suggested that these postbiotic foods offer a simple and practical way to support oral health in daily life without altering oral care habits. The findings also aid in the prevention of early-stage periodontal disease. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-postbiotic-gummies-gum-weeks-trial.html Wed, 17 Jun 2026 20:20:01 EDT news700914617 The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted routine health care in unprecedented ways, forcing providers and patients alike to delay or forgo preventive services. At the University of Colorado Anschutz School of Dental Medicine, those disruptions allowed a team of oral health and informatics researchers to better understand what happens when routine periodontal maintenance is paused, and what those findings mean moving forward. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-pandemic-era-gaps-dental-reveal.html Tue, 16 Jun 2026 16:40:01 EDT news700846682 Your child's small, delicate, chalk-white baby teeth fall out. In their place grow yellowish-brown, fragile teeth—much to everyone's surprise. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-mysterious-tooth-condition-affecting-millions.html Mon, 15 Jun 2026 16:20:09 EDT news700746721 As the debate over the value of adding fluoride to public drinking water percolates in communities across the nation, a new nationally representative survey from the Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC) of the University of Pennsylvania finds Americans sharply divided over the use of fluoride in public drinking water. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-americans-fluoridation-opposition-maha-notable.html Thu, 11 Jun 2026 11:20:01 EDT news700393141 People who follow a short-term low-calorie diet may have reduced markers of inflammation associated with gum disease. A study by King's College London, published in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology, highlights how lifestyle modifications could be important alongside plaque control in managing gum disease. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-fasting-mimicking-diet-gum-disease.html Wed, 10 Jun 2026 19:10:05 EDT news700242182 Diabetes is associated with complications in multiple organs, including the oral cavity. As a group, people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes are at higher risk for oral diseases. According to a new thesis by dentist Anna Trullenque Eriksson from the University of Gothenburg, people with diabetes have an increased risk of periodontitis (gum disease) and tooth loss, and the risk of inflammation and bone loss at dental implants was also higher. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-diabetes-higher-tooth-implant-loss.html Tue, 09 Jun 2026 19:40:04 EDT news700215797 A new toothpaste for relieving tooth sensitivity has been developed by UCL researchers using a nature-inspired material that supports bone regeneration. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-nature-toothpaste-sensitive-teeth.html Tue, 09 Jun 2026 12:00:04 EDT news700220102 Excessive bite force does not cause alveolar bone loss but significantly worsens it when combined with periodontitis, report researchers in a new study. While traumatic occlusion has long been suspected to exacerbate periodontitis, the molecular mechanisms behind this link were poorly understood. Now, using mouse models of both conditions separately and combined, the researchers conducted comprehensive gene expression analysis across multiple periodontal tissues, identifying key inflammatory pathways upregulated in bone when both conditions were present. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-mechanical-stress-bone-destruction-periodontitis.html Sun, 07 Jun 2026 14:00:03 EDT news699542974 People with disabilities continue to face major barriers when seeking oral health care, according to new research that explores the perspectives of patients, caregivers and health care professionals in different countries. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-people-disabilities-poorer-oral-health.html Wed, 03 Jun 2026 21:20:01 EDT news699700131 There's a lot of buzz about the gut microbiome—the trillions of microbes that help us digest food and support the immune system. But your mouth is also home to its own highly specialized microbial community, and new research suggests that these oral microbes may play an equally important role in maintaining health. The work is published in the journal Microbiology Spectrum. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-road-health-requires-microbes-mouth.html Wed, 03 Jun 2026 15:34:56 EDT news699719609 Dental implants have given tens of millions of people something dentures never could: a full set of fixed and fully functioning teeth. Unfortunately, 10% to 20% of implant patients eventually experience an aggressive jawbone infection called peri-implantitis. Antibiotics usually fail to stop the infection for reasons that researchers have not understood until now. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-titanium-particles-antibiotics-dental-implant.html Thu, 28 May 2026 16:00:06 EDT news699199321 A new study led by Prof. Michael Klutstein at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Prof. Asaf Wilensky at the Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical Center and spearheaded by the students Dr. Paz Kles and Stephen Ameho has uncovered a striking biological link between chronic oral inflammation and female fertility, suggesting that conditions in the mouth may have far-reaching effects on reproductive health. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-oral-inflammation-ovaries-fertility-decline.html Thu, 28 May 2026 10:20:01 EDT news699179549 Cancer diagnosis can be challenging, and delayed diagnosis can allow cancer to progress, complicating treatment. Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), the most common type of oral cancer, can sometimes mimic benign conditions, such as gum disease or oral infections, making diagnosis difficult. Therefore, identifying new diagnostic methods for OSCC is crucial. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-rare-burrowing-oral-cancer-distinct.html Tue, 26 May 2026 07:40:20 EDT news698999227 With age, teeth get increasingly brittle and susceptible to damage from tooth decay, which can eventually lead to tooth loss. Teeth have an intrinsic capability to regenerate, a process that is driven by dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) that replenish the dental pulp, including the dentin-producing cells called odontoblasts. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-stem-cells-root-tooth-aging.html Thu, 21 May 2026 11:00:14 EDT news698511718 Supervised toothbrushing in schools is making positive progress in a bid to overcome health inequalities in pediatric dental health. A significant expansion in the BRUSH supervised toothbrushing project, which is now delivered in 81% of local authorities, has been welcomed by the British Society of Pediatric Dentistry (BSPD). https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-expansion-toothbrushing-schools-children-poor.html Fri, 15 May 2026 08:43:48 EDT news698053382 Jeffrey Stansbury, Ph.D., senior associate dean for research and professor at the CU Anschutz School of Dental Medicine, has four properties he wants the next generation of dentures to include: that they are cheaper, faster to make, and more durable than current dentures; and that they are potentially able to combat bacteria and fungus. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-qa-3d-revolutionize-dentures.html Tue, 05 May 2026 16:40:06 EDT news697215721 Treating patients who have spent years—sometimes decades—avoiding dental care because of fear, disability, trauma or painful past experiences can be challenging. "They are afraid and don't want to be treated," said Adela Planerova, DDS, MS, chair Special Needs Dentistry at University of Rochester Medicine Eastman Institute for Oral Health. "Some are even afraid to enter the room. When they eventually sit in the chair, they often try to push the provider away. Many of our patients move constantly, while others have persistent involuntary movements because of their condition, such as cerebral palsy." https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-music-dental.html Thu, 30 Apr 2026 11:20:01 EDT news696763741 A study from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem has identified a significant link between maternal care and lifelong oral health. Led by Prof. Avi-Hai Hovav and the DMD/Ph.D. student Reem Naamneh from the Faculty of Dental Medicine at Hebrew University, the team discovered that maternal antibodies do not just offer a temporary shield for newborns but actually program the offspring's immune system to fight oral diseases well into adult life. The research is published in the journal Nature Communications. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-maternal-antibodies-pregnancy-lifelong-defenses.html Wed, 29 Apr 2026 18:20:08 EDT news696697202 People who experienced early socioeconomic disadvantage (SED) were 12–16% less likely to go for preventive dental visits during both adolescence and adulthood, a new University of Bristol study has found. The findings, published in BMC Oral Health, analyzed data from over 1,600 participants. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-early-disadvantage-linked-dental-adulthood.html Wed, 29 Apr 2026 16:00:13 EDT news696693582 Many young Australians are beginning their winter sports season, gearing up for sports such as football, hockey, and rugby. Apart from the training sessions, weekend games, and oranges at halftime, these contact sports also involve mouthguards. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-bacteria-kids-sports-mouthguards-results.html Mon, 27 Apr 2026 22:00:03 EDT news696506444 People getting their teeth pulled or drilled by dentists in the United States are still much more likely to get powerful opioid medications than dental patients in other developed countries or even the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico, a new study finds. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-dentists-opioids-pain-peer-nations.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 10:40:04 EDT news696245402