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We all know how important it is to keep our teeth clean and healthy (or maybe that's just me, married to a dentist).  They affect our whole body, not just our mouth, because gum disease can lead to all kinds of infections, problems in pregnancy and even heart disease. But researchers have found a new use for our teeth that, let's face it, we all pretty much take for granted. What if stem cells taken from teeth can grow to resemble brain cells, suggesting they could one day be used in the brain as a therapy for stroke? That's what science is looking at right now, according to newswise.com.  " Stem cells are unprogrammed cells in the human  body  that can be described as "shape shifters." These  cells  have the ability to change into other types of cells," science.howstuffworks.com reports. " Because stem cells can become bone, muscle, cartilage and other specialized types of cells, they have the potential to treat many diseases, including Parki...

So we visit the dentist to have our teeth cleaned, maybe a cavity filled, sometimes even to affix a crown. But did you know one day sitting down at your dentist  could result in more than even a doctor might be able to tell you? A new study says dentists one day soon may be required to get a detailed look at how genes in a patient's body are being switched on or off. That means which genes are activated, and which are shut down.    It's called  epigenetics and researchers are now studying how it relates to oral health, newswise.com reports.  "Our genetic code, or DNA, is like an orchestra - it contains all of the elements we need to function - but the epigenetic code is essentially the conductor, telling which instruments to play or stay silent, or how to respond at any given moment," the Web site quotes study author associate professor Toby Hughes, University of Adelaide. Epigenetics has had an increasing role in biological and medical research, newsw...

Want to know the best way to tell whether your parent in a nursing home is doing well?  Open his mouth. A shocking number of nursing home residents rarely if ever have their teeth looked at, according to Catherine Saint Louis, and though you might think it's just teeth, infection in gums from poor dental hygiene can lead to life-threatening illnesses like pneumonia, one of the number-one killers of those living in nursing homes. "In nursing homes across the country, residents. . . are plagued by cavities, gum disease and cracked teeth, in part because their mouths are not kept clean," Saint Louis writes. And nursing home personnel, spending most of their time helping residents to the toilet, being fed, or repositioned in bed, just don't have much to spend on dental hygiene, even just brushing teeth. “I always say you can measure quality in a nursing home by looking in people’s mouths, because it’s one of the last things to be taken care of,” Dr. Judith A. Jones...

I was horrified to read that a new study has found that preventive dentist visits may not help save any money or prevent any cavities. According to newswise.com, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends "that children see a pediatric dentist as soon as their first tooth appears in order to prevent dental problems." But earlier research has indicated that "actually does not show that these visits lead to less costly dental issues in kids." “There was actually more expensive restorative procedures among kids with more preventive dental visits," the Web site quotes Bisha Sen, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Healthcare Organization & Policy. But this may not be as counter-intuitive as it sounds. Usually it's kids with a family history of dental problems who visit the dentist most often, and therefore, are the ones usually found to be most in need of expensive dental care. Kids without problem teeth probably aren't t...

It's a surprising fact (to me) that pregnant women don't go to the dentist.  Probably because we get tired of going to the doctor every month and then every week in our last trimester.  But it's important, and here's why. Regular trips to the dentist can prevent gum disease and inflammation, which up to 70% of women experience during pregnancy. So big deal, you say?  Actually it is. Gum disease leads to infection and infection can spread from your gums to the rest of your body. According to Catherine Saint Louis, not going to a dentist when suffering active tooth decay can pass bacteria from a woman's saliva to her fetus, endangering the baby's oral health as well as risking other more serious forms of infection. Fear is behind a lot of this.  Not from pregnant women.  But dentists. “A lot of dentists still fear treating pregnant women, and think, ‘What happens if I have to do an X-ray ?’ or ‘What happens if I give antibiotics or local anesthesia ?’” Dr...

Oh no, say it ain't so!  Diet soda a no-no for those trying to lose weight -- and who want to keep their teeth?! http://www.dallasnews.com/health/weight-loss/headlines/20121203-does-no-calorie-mean-no-worry-when-it-comes-to-sodas-not-necessarily..ece