Latest news with #dentalhealth
CBS News
a day ago
- Business
- CBS News
Removing fluoride from water could result in 25 million cavities and cost $9.8 billion, study estimates
New research suggests that removing fluoride from public water would increase dental care costs and tooth decay for children across the United States. The study, published Friday in the JAMA Health Forum, used a nationally representative sample of 8,484 children aged 0 to 19 from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to estimate projected outcomes of stopping water fluoridation in the U.S. — something some states, including Utah and Florida, have already begun doing. Researchers found removing fluoride was associated with an increase in tooth decay of 7.5 percentage points, or 25.4 million cases, and cost approximately $9.8 billion over 5 years. These effects would disproportionately affect publicly insured and uninsured children, who are already at the highest risk of unmet dental needs, the authors added. Fluoride is a mineral that helps strengthen teeth and reduce cavities, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It does this by repairing and preventing damage to teeth caused by bacteria in the mouth that produce acid, which in turn dissolves minerals in a tooth's surface and can even lead to tooth loss. Tooth decay by itself can be painful and costly to treat but left untreated can cause further problems, including infections and abscesses or even sepsis, according to the World Health Organization. Some research has also linked poor oral health to other complications, such as cardiovascular disease due to inflammation and infection. The addition of low levels of fluoride to drinking water was long considered one of the greatest public health achievements of the last century, but Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has brought it into question, claiming fluoride is linked to a slew of health problems. Dental experts have told CBS News they largely disagree. "Seventy years of research, thousands of studies and the experience of more than 210 million Americans tell us that water fluoridation is effective in preventing cavities and is safe for children and adults," according to the American Dental Association. Fluoride can come from a number of sources, including most toothpaste brands, but researchers say drinking water is the main source for Americans. Plus, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced earlier this year that it is starting the process of removing ingestible fluoride prescription drug products for kids from the market.
CBC
a day ago
- Business
- CBC
Dentists praise Canadian Dental Care program, but also express concern over influx of new patients
A northern Ontario dentist says the Canadian Dental Care Plan has generally been positive, but he worries it could cause issues meeting higher demand for dental care over the long term. In June, eligible Canadians between the ages of 18 and 64 can start receiving dental coverage under the plan. Dr. Thomas Detert, a dental surgeon based in Blind River, said the dental plan is bringing in patients who haven't been to a dentist's office in years. "Some of them are like over 10 or 15 years because when they retired, they lost their benefits," he said. In some cases, Detert said those patients had good oral hygiene habits and didn't need significant dental care. But in other cases, they put off going to the dentist until they were in serious pain, and needed significant work. While the program has benefited those people, Detert said there's a risk demand for dental care could outstrip the ability of dentists and other oral health professionals to meet it. "Much like our socialized medicine in Canada, without proper prevention and education, the demand [has] outstripped any amount of supply that can be thrown at it. And that's what I'm afraid of for socialized dentistry," he said. Around 3.6 million Canadians have been approved by the Canadian Dental Care Plan and around 1.9 million people received care through the plan, as of April. Dr. Jerry Smith, a dentist from Thunder Bay, Ont., and the past president of the Ontario Dental Association, said another 4.5 million Canadians could qualify for the plan with the cohort of people between the ages of 18 and 64. Smith agreed that the plan has been positive for people who might not be able to afford dental care otherwise. But he worries a shortage of dental hygienists and assistants will make it challenging for dentists to properly serve an influx of new patients. "In Ontario alone, there is a shortage of about 3,400 dental assistants and about 5,500 dental hygienists," he said.
CBS News
a day ago
- Business
- CBS News
Removing fluoride from water could result in 25 million cavities and $9.8 billion, study estimates
New research suggests that removing fluoride from public water would increase dental care costs and tooth decay for children across the United States. The study, published Friday in the JAMA Health Forum, used a nationally representative sample of 8,484 children aged 0 to 19 from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to estimate projected outcomes of stopping water fluoridation in the U.S. — something some states, including Utah and Florida, have already begun doing. Researchers found removing fluoride was associated with an increase in tooth decay of 7.5 percentage points, or 25.4 million cases, and cost approximately $9.8 billion over 5 years. These effects would disproportionately affect publicly insured and uninsured children, who are already at the highest risk of unmet dental needs, the authors added. Fluoride is a mineral that helps strengthen teeth and reduce cavities, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It does this by repairing and preventing damage to teeth caused by bacteria in the mouth that produce acid, which in turn dissolves minerals in a tooth's surface and can even lead to tooth loss. Tooth decay by itself can be painful and costly to treat but left untreated can cause further problems, including infections and abscesses or even sepsis, according to the World Health Organization. Some research has also linked poor oral health to other complications, such as cardiovascular disease due to inflammation and infection. The addition of low levels of fluoride to drinking water was long considered one of the greatest public health achievements of the last century, but Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has brought it into question, claiming fluoride is linked to a slew of health problems. Dental experts have told CBS News they largely disagree. "Seventy years of research, thousands of studies and the experience of more than 210 million Americans tell us that water fluoridation is effective in preventing cavities and is safe for children and adults," according to the American Dental Association. Fluoride can come from a number of sources, including most toothpaste brands, but researchers say drinking water is the main source for Americans. Plus, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced earlier this year that it is starting the process of removing ingestible fluoride prescription drug products for kids from the market.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
I dropped seven dress sizes on Mounjaro...but then 7 of my teeth fell out - and that wasn't the only unsightly side effect
A 42 year-old woman who took a weight loss jab was horrified when she looked in the mirror and saw she had developed two rows of jagged broken teeth. Hope Lancaster Colquhoun said while the injection led to her losing nine stone, which helped her drop seven dress sizes, it came at a shocking cost. 'The weight just slipped off me, but sadly, so did my teeth,' she told The Sun. The content creator, from Hebburn, Tyne and Wear, said her natural smile had always been a source of personal pride despite being mocked for her weight. But she claims taking Mounjaro, dubbed the King Kong of weight loss jabs, resulted in her teeth snapping in half. 'As I ran my tongue against the top of my mouth, I noticed a sharp, jagged edge,' she said. 'I looked in the mirror and was left horrified as not one, but multiple, of my teeth had completely snapped in half.' Seeking medical help the mother, once cruelly called the 'whale' because of her size, was told the damage to her teeth was likely due her rapid weight-loss. 'While I had lost weight, I had also lost such an important part of me,' she said. Later a dentist told her at least seven of her teeth would have to immediately be pulled out. 'I sat in the chair, feeling sick to my stomach, as they yanked my natural teeth away,' she recalled. She was eventually given a partial denture fitted which she said made her 'feel like a granny'. Ms Lancaster Colquhoun also needed four fillings and has now spent over £3,700 on fixing her teeth. Despite now needing dentures for life, she insists the taking the weight loss jab has saved her life. 'I'd encourage people to consider the jab because of how life-changing it's been for me,' she said. Experts warn weight loss jabs can increase a patient's risk of dehydration, which as a consequence can reduce saliva production in the mouth. This in turn can increase the risk of tooth decay and gum disease, as saliva plays a vital role in washing away food particles and neutralizing acids produced by bacteria. The loss of her teeth wasn't the only negative side effect Ms Lancaster Colquhoun claims to have experienced from taking Mounjaro. She also said that as she slimmed down she was left with large quantities of excess skin, she compared her stomach to 'a bulldog's face'. Mounjaro is the brand name for tirzepatide, a weight loss injection which works by suppressing your appetite, making you feel fuller for longer. Ms Lancaster Colquhoun, originally from Texas in the US, said she was prescribed the drug after battling with her weight for years. She weighed more than 18 stone at her heaviest, wearing size 22 clothes, which left her in fear of being stared at or judged even at celebratory occasions like her sister's wedding. 'While everyone was getting their glam done, I was helping set up because, at that point, my looks didn't matter,' she said. She also recalled being cruelly shamed on social media by total strangers. 'Once, I got a call from my niece saying someone took a photo of me at our local grocery store and captioned it, "Whales shouldn't be put in clothes",' she said. Eventually the mental toll of fearing judgement over her weight left her afraid to leave the house. Despite trying to lose weight by going to the gym, consulting with a dietitian, and other weight loss medications, she had little to no success. It was only after she was rushed to hospital with 'dangerously high' blood sugar levels and was diagnosed with diabetes, that her doctor suggested Mounjaro. Ms Lancaster Colquhoun described the positive effects of the Mounjaro jab which she was prescribed by private provider as 'life changing'. She also shared she 'never felt more beautiful' when she got married to her now husband Dean Colquhoun on April 17, 2024. Eli Lilly, the manufacturer of Mounjaro responding to Ms Lancaster Colquhoun's story, said: 'Patient safety is Lilly's top priority, and we take any reports regarding patient safety extremely seriously. 'Regulatory agencies conduct extensive independent assessments of the benefits and risks of every new medicine. 'Lilly is committed to continually monitoring, evaluating, and reporting safety data to ensure the latest information is available for regulators and prescribers.' To ensure you are getting 'genuine Lilly medicine' they advised patients consult their doctor or other health care professionals about any side effects.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
As diabetes cases surge 40 per cent in a decade, and one in ten of us will soon have the disease, experts discover a shocking risk factor doctors have missed
Failing to regularly brush your teeth increases the risk of developing diabetes, experts claim. Research suggests that the condition – where the body struggles to regulate blood sugar levels – can be triggered by gum disease, which is thought to affect about four in ten of the population.
