oral health

The optimal state of the mouth and normal functioning of the organs of the mouth without evidence of disease.

Our oral health Blogs

How clean is your toothbrush?

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This review of the level of toothbrush contamination and the factors affecting contamination in the general population included 15 studies. The findings show that toothbrush contamination occurs after first use and rises with continuing use. However, there is little evidence of significant adverse events from current practices.

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Oil pulling for oral health

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This review of oil pulling compared to chlorhexidine and other mouthwashes in improving the plaque, gingival and bacteria count parameters included 25 RCTs. However, the studies are modest in size of short duration and all except one study were considered to be at high risk of bias. Consequently the available evidence is of very low certainty and should be interpreted cautiously.

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Dental water jet and oral health maintenance in orthodontic patients

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This review assessing the effect of incorporating the dental water jet (DWJ) into the oral hygiene routines of orthodontic patients included 6 RCTs. While the findings suggest a benefit from the use of the DWJ the limited number of small studies none of which were at low risk of bias means the findings should be interpreted cautiously.

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Oral piercings and periodontal health

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This review of the influence of oral piercings on the periodontal health status in adult patients included 8 small observational studies. In line with other reviews the findings indicate adverse effects on periodontal health from oral piercings. However the quality of the evidence is low.

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Bruxism in Down Syndrome patients

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This review to assess the prevalence in bruxism in patients with Down Syndrome included 8 small studies. The studies were hetrogeneous with a pooled prevalence of 33% (95% CI: 22 to 45%).

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Orofacial injuries in people with cerebral palsy

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This review of the prevalence of orofacial injuries in patients with cerebral palsy (CP) included 12 studies. Ten studies were included in a meta-analysis which estimates the assess the prevalence of orofacial injuries in patients with CP at 34% (95%CI; 18 – 25%).

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Caries in HIV-infected children and adolescents

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This review assessing whether caries severity is higher in HIV-infected children and adolescents than in those who uninfected included 16 studies. While the review suggests a higher caries severity in those infected with HIV the certainty of the evidence is low with the majority of studies not providing information on potential confounders.

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Children vs dependent older people – facilitators and barriers to providing oral hygiene

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In this their latest blog Gemma Gaw, Suzy Harkness, Emma O’Donnell Scottish Specialty Registrars in Special Care Dentistry look at a review comparing barriers and facilitators to providing oral health measures for both children and dependent older adults.

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Root caries – effect of domiciliary professional oral care

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This review of domiciliary professional oral care on root caries development and progression in care-dependent older adults included 4 RCTs. While all the included studies indicated a benefit the interventions and outcomes were veriable and none were considered to be at low risk of bias.

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Smoking and the incidence of peri-implantitis

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This review of the influence of smoking on the incidence of peri-implantitis included 6 prospective cohort studies involving a total of 762 patients. The findings suggest an increased patient-level risk of peri-implantitis in smokers risk ratio = 2.08 (95%CI; 1.17 to 3.71.

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