Dental

It's common knowledge that avoiding too much sugar or acid-containing foods is a good way to keep your oral health on the right track. But a new study now reveals that a common well-regarded eating plan can also have a big positive impact.

While scientists are amassing a fair amount of data regarding our gut microbiomes, the oral microbiome is a bit of a new frontier. Case in point: researchers have just discovered huge pieces of DNA there that they never knew existed.

Having hypersensitive teeth can be quite the hassle, making it painful to consume hot, cold, sweet and/or acidic foods and beverages. Tiny new "robots" are here to help, by permanently plugging tunnels in the teeth for less discomfort.

Would you use a toothpaste made from human hair if it promised to protect, repair, and reduce pain in your teeth better than anything on the market? That might be a question you'll have to contend with one day, based on new research out of London.

In a recent experiment that sounds more sci-fi than science class, researchers have demonstrated a novel vaccine platform that uses ordinary dental floss embedded with tiny, dissolvable microneedles showing how everyday materials can be reimagined.

This portable dental blaster should probably be called a vapor flosser, as it fires surprisingly forceful bursts of up to 98% air through the gaps in your teeth, making efficient use of water as it blasts out debris.

A herbal mouthwash selectively killed off bad bacteria in the mouth while preserving the good strains, according to a new study. It's proposed as an alternative to conventional mouthwashes, which were found to kill indiscriminately and damage gum tissue.

When it comes to dental checkups, no one likes having their gums poked with the periodontal probe. Well, they may soon no longer have to, thanks to a gum-assessing toothbrush-shaped mini ultrasound transducer.

Researchers have found an indication of depression in a slightly unexpected place – the microbiome inside our mouths. The finding opens a new route of inquiry that could lead to novel antidepressant treatments and help other ailments as well.

Scientists have developed an innovative new stem cell-infused implant that "grows" into the gum and fuses with existing nerves to function much like a real tooth. It's also gentler on the patient, expanding like memory foam to sit securely in place.

You already know when you are feeling highly stressed, but low-grade background stress is harder to detect. A new dental flosser from researchers at Tufts University aims to make it easier by monitoring the chemistry of your saliva.

I didn't know it was possible to pay this much for a toothbrush – or that it was possible to pack in so many gadgets. This is a study in outrageous excess and over-engineering... But the end result is frankly amazing.