Oral Hygiene Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Oral Hygiene, including details on dentistry, cavities, flossing, mouthwash.

Influence of musculoskeletal conditions on oral health among older adults.

Kelsey JL, Lamster IB

Department of Medicine, Division of Preventive and Behavioral Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA. jennykelsey@comcast.net

Both musculoskeletal disorders and diseases of the oral cavity are common and potentially serious problems among older persons, yet little attention has been given to the links between them. Several musculoskeletal diseases, including osteoporosis, Paget's disease, and arthritic disorders, may directly involve the oral cavity and contiguous structures. Drugs used to treat musculoskeletal diseases, including corticosteroids and bisphosphonates, increase the risk of suppression of the immune system and osteonecrosis of the jaw, respectively. Many people with disabling osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and other conditions have difficulty practicing good oral hygiene and traveling to dental offices for professional help. Various inexpensive measures can help such individuals, including education of their caregivers and provision of antimicrobial mouthwashes and special toothbrushes.

Published 11 June 2008 in Am J Public Health, 98(7): 1177-83.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

Articles on Oral Hygiene published 24 April 2008:

Trends over 30 years, 1973-2003, in the prevalence and severity of periodontal disease.   J Clin Periodontol, 35(5): 405-14.

AIM: The present investigation presents findings of the prevalence and distribution of gingivitis and periodontitis in a Swedish population over the 30 years 1973-2003. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Four cross-sectional epidemiological studies in 1973, 1983, 1993, and 2003 were performed in Jönköping, Sweden. Random samples of individuals aged 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, and 80 years were examined clinically and radiographically. Diagnostic criteria were edentulousness, number of teeth, plaque, gingival ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Oral Hygiene published 14 April 2008:

Effect of a dental water jet with orthodontic tip on plaque and bleeding in adolescent patients with fixed orthodontic appliances.   Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop, 133(4): 565-71; quiz 628.e1-2.

INTRODUCTION: Effective self-care is difficult for people with orthodontic appliances because of the inherent design of brackets and archwires. It is not uncommon to have increases in plaque and gingivitis after placement of fixed appliances. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of using a dental water jet (DWJ) with a specialized tip (orthodontic) on plaque and bleeding in adolescent orthodontic patients with fixed appliances. METHODS: One hundred six subjects were enrolled in ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Oral Hygiene published 5 February 2008:

Meta-analysis on the effectiveness of powered toothbrushes for orthodontic patients.   Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop, 133(2): 187.e1-14.

INTRODUCTION: Although powered toothbrushes have been recommended for gingivitis prevention in orthodontic patients, a relevant meta-analysis has been lacking. The aim of this meta-analysis was to compare the effectiveness of powered and manual toothbrushes in reducing gingival inflammation in patients having fixed orthodontic appliance therapy. METHODS: Citations of potentially relevant trials published in journals, dissertations, and conference proceedings were located by searching the ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Oral Hygiene published 21 January 2008:

Oral hygiene and parent-related factors during early childhood in relation to approximal caries at 15 years of age.   Caries Res, 42(1): 28-36.

The aim was to investigate whether oral hygiene habits and parent-related factors, recorded in early childhood, have a predictive value in relation to approximal caries experience (including initial caries lesions) at the age of 15 years (n = 568). Data were selected from examinations, interviews and questionnaires at 1 and 3 years and bitewing radiographs at 15 years. Four levels of cut-off points for the statistical analysis were used: DFa = 0, > 0, > or = 4 and > or = 8. In the ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

A randomized controlled trial assessing the effectiveness of professional oral care by dental hygienists.   Int J Dent Hyg, 6(1): 63-7.

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to compare professional oral care (POC) by a dental hygienist with tooth brushing and mouth rinsing by patients themselves according to the instructions of a nurse (control). METHODS: Forty patients were randomly assigned to either the POC group (n = 20) or control group (n = 20). The presence of plaque and bacteria was assessed clinically. RESULTS: One patient in the POC group and three patients in the control group dropped out because of exacerbation of ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Evaluation of a 7-year school-based community dental hygiene programme in Portugal by high school teachers.   Int J Dent Hyg, 6(1): 37-42.

OBJECTIVES: To obtain high school teachers evaluation of a Community Dental Hygiene programme, developed as part of a clinical trial designed to assess the safety of low-level mercury exposure from amalgam restorations. METHODS: A questionnaire to assess programme evaluation, personal opinion on programme relevance and satisfaction with activities was distributed among teachers. It had a total of 22 questions organized into three groups. RESULTS: A total of 25 questionnaires were obtained from ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Oral Hygiene published 26 November 2007:

Unusual wooden foreign body in the palate.   Br Dent J, 203(10): 573-4.

We report a case of a palatal calcified foreign body simulating an odontogenic lesion. Surgical exploration revealed a calcified mass that was analysed under light microscopy and identified as a vegetal foreign body. Further scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed that the foreign body was a piece of wood. Hard palate foreign bodies have been reported previously, however, it seems that this is the first case of its kind. [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Oral Hygiene published 26 October 2007:

Oral health and risk of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck and esophagus: results of two multicentric case-control studies.   Am J Epidemiol, 166(10): 1159-73.

Poor oral health has been reported as a risk factor in the etiology of head and neck cancer. Data on oral health were ascertained as part of two multicenter case-control studies comprising 924 cases and 928 controls in central Europe and 2,286 cases and 1,824 controls in Latin America. Incident cases of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (oral cavity, pharynx, larynx) and esophagus, as well as age (in quinquennia)- and sex frequency-matched controls, were enrolled from 1998 to 2003. ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

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