DrBicuspid.com Hygiene Insider

Dear Hygiene Insider,

Periodontitis is associated with an increased risk of oral cancer, while dental caries is associated with a decreased risk, according to a study presented last week at the International Association for Dental Research meeting in Seattle.

In related news, findings from a recent Canadian health survey did not reveal a significant association between obesity and periodontitis -- despite the fact that previous studies found at least a 35% increased risk for periodontitis among obese individuals. Read more.

Elsewhere in the Hygiene Community, clinical studies have demonstrated that the topical application of silver diamine fluoride (SDF) is a cost-effective method for managing dental caries. Now a new study reveals the science behind SDF and its ability to arrest caries and reduce demineralization.

In other research news, bacteria flowing through medical devices form biofilms that then trap more bacteria, ultimately creating a net-like barrier that can clog water lines, tubes, and filters much more quickly than previously thought, according to a new study from Princeton University researchers.

Meanwhile, a survey of state Medicaid early and periodic screening, diagnosis, and treatment (EPSDT) guidelines shows there is a reasonable level of adherence across the U.S. to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommendations for infant and toddler oral health practices. However, information on some states' EPSDT guidelines can be hard to find and is sometimes contradictory, the investigators found. Read more.

And developmentally disabled children often have higher rates of oral diseases because they have oral aversions or are unable to find dental practitioners who are comfortable treating them, according to a new study in Pediatrics.

Finally, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning that the antibiotic azithromycin can cause abnormal changes in the electrical activity of the heart that may lead to a potentially fatal irregular heart rhythm. The agency also issued draft recommendations to medical product manufacturers to stop using labels such as "latex-free" or "does not contain natural rubber latex" on their products because these statements are not scientifically accurate.