Teeth

A new study is suggesting signs of the disease ALS may be detectable in teeth, decades before the onset of any symptoms. The research points to a dysfunction in metabolizing metals as a possible factor in the onset of this still mysterious disease.

After an orthodontist has fitted a patient with braces or otherwise worked on straightening their teeth, it's important for them to follow that person's progress. A new setup lets them do so, without requiring the patient to visit their clinic.

Tree rings hold clues to the plant's past – and your own teeth might do the same. Scientists have found that the material in the roots of teeth preserves a lifelong record of stresses on the body, such as childbirth, illness, and even prison time.

A study has offered the first insights into the long-term effects a chlorhexidine mouthwash has on the oral microbiome. The research suggests it can alter the oral microbiome, lower saliva pH increasing acidity and heighten risk of tooth damage.

For many cavity-prone people, tooth-brushing often just isn't enough. It was with such folks in mind that a new mouthwash-based system was recently developed, which reportedly uses light to kill problematic bacteria.

A new study has found a plaque-identifying toothpaste can potentially lower levels of systemic inflammation – which has been linked to cardiovascular disease, stroke and hypertension – by improving a person’s brushing efficacy.

Fillings are essentially the only treatment option widely available for cavities, but now researchers from China have created a new peptide-based coating that can prevent cavities from forming.

We're seeing an increasing number of organ-on-a-chip devices, in which small pieces of living biological tissue are used to replicate the functions of actual organs. Now, scientists have created a tooth-on-a-chip, which mimics a tooth with a cavity.

New research led by Michael D. D'Emic, an assistant professor of biology at Adelphi University, indicates that a 70-million-year-old dinosaur called Majungasaurus shed and replaced its teeth like a shark about every two months.

A metastudy has affirmed the link between gum disease and hypertension, finding the worse a person’s oral health the greater their risk of suffering from high blood pressure.

It sure would be nice if teeth could just repair themselves. Thankfully that’s not as far-fetched as it sounds – researchers have found a new population of stem cells in mice that are in charge of repairing tooth tissue and could be recruited to help us patch up cavities.

​Getting a filling isn't always the end of a tooth's cavity problems. Sometimes, bacteria is able to get down between the filling and the surface of the tooth, causing another cavity to occur. A new antibacterial dental restorative material, however, could help keep that from happening.