Special braces analyse tooth-friendliness of foods

[drmithila]

`WITTEN, Germany: Researchers from the Witten/Herdecke University are currently testing foods and beverages with regard to their tooth-friendliness. The testing is being conducted using special dental retainers equipped with electrodes to measure acidity levels in the mouth caused by food products.
The testing station was established in April on behalf of Toothfriendly International, a non-profit organisation founded in 1989 and based in Basel, Switzerland. The organisation grants the use of its Toothfriendly logo on products that have been shown to be non-cariogenic and non-erosive in in vivo plaque-pH telemetry tests at independent dental institutes, such as the private university in Witten.

According to Dr Stefan Zimmer, professor at the university’s School of Dentistry, manufacturers who wish to use the label to advertise their foods and beverages have to have these products tested. “Many companies claim that their products are sugar-free, which does not necessarily mean that they are also tooth-friendly. All too often, such products contain fructose or other types of sugar, which are as likely to cause tooth decay as conventional sugar. Only the Toothfriendly label is a clear indicator that the product causes neither caries nor erosion,” he said.

In order to evaluate the cariogenic and erosive potential of a certain product, oral acid levels in voluntary test persons are checked by pH electrodes mounted in a removable dental device. These “braces” transmit the data collected to a computerised analysis device. Changes in acid levels are monitored during chewing and up to 30 minutes after consumption of the respective product.

“Since the dental prostheses have to be fitted individually for every participant, the trials are very expensive and have to be closely monitored,” said Zimmer, who was very pleased to have received accreditation for Witten after three years of preparation.

In total, three university institutes worldwide are authorised to perform such tests. Besides Witten, product trials are run at the University of Zurich in Switzerland and at the Department of Preventive Dentistry at Peking University’s School of Stomatology.

 

        

[Drsumitra]

A study by Dr. Car­men Gonzales, et al investigated the effect of systemic fluoride intake from birth to 12 weeks on orthodontically induced root resorption and tooth movement in rat mo­lars. Fifty male rats were randomly di­vided into the following 5 groups: a neg­ative control group that re­ceived no so­dium fluoride and had no tooth movement; a positive control group that re­ceived no sodium fluoride but had tooth movement; and 3 experiment­al groups that received 45-ppm sodium fluoride from birth to 2, 4, and 12 weeks, respectively. At week 10, a 50-g nickel-titanium coil spring was ap­plied to the maxillary left first molar for 2 weeks. At week 12, movement of the maxillary first mo­lars was measured in relation to the maxillary second molar on digitized cephalometric radiographs. Mesial and distal roots were examined by using scanning electron and 3-dimensional laser microscopes. The study found that fluoride reduced the depth, volume, and roughness of the resorption craters in the experimental groups. Yet, the area was similar to that in the positive control group. The longer fluoride was administered via drinking water, the smaller the amount of tooth movement ob­served. It concluded that fluoride in drinking water from birth reduced the severity of orthodontically induced root resorption, but the amount of tooth movement was also decreased.

 

        

[drsushant]

The state of oral health in New York City may soon be on the rise.

City health officials voted, 8-0, in favor of banning 16-oz soft drinks. New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg brought up the legislation earlier this year.

The goal behind this legislation was to lower obesity rates, which have become a major problem in the United States. Without consuming sodas in the same large quantity as in the past, oral health will likely improve. The amount of sugar in soda, especially 16-oz serving sizes, is extremely problematic for one’s dental health.

A standard size soft drink contains 12 teaspoons of sugar on average.

Sugar results in many oral health problems, including gingivitis and decay. Plaque eventually develops from the bacteria, which damages the tooth enamel.

A University of California study has determined that soft drink consumption has continually gotten worse during the last 50 years, which has adversely impacted oral health as a whole. Excessive sugar consumption results on obesity, in addition to various oral health problems.

 

        

[drmithila]

Fashion braces have become a new trend in Asia. The problem is no one figured to check the health ramifications.

Health experts in Indonesia, Thailand and China have warned against wearing the fake fashion braces.

The fake braces have become popular amongst teenagers based on the high cost of orthodontics. The braces can be purchased online or in open-air markets. The braces are sometimes fitted at beauty salons.

The braces appear to be harmless but there have been two recent deaths linked to the braces. In Thailand, the braces have been banned based on a death of a teenage boy. The death resulted from an infection in the thyroid glands that led to heart failure.

People in Thailand now caught selling the braces may face a jail sentence up to six months. If a person is found to be importing these braces, the person could face up to a year in jail.

The problem with the braces stems from the wiring they use. The wiring is made of lead, which can cause major health problems if it enters the wrong part of the body.

        

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