Today's Dental News

People don’t know enough about the link between oral cancer and sexual health, according to various studies.

The general awareness about sexually transmitted infections has risen in recent years but most people still don’t know that the human papilloma virus can cause oral cancer. HPV is a common infection that may be spread through unprotected sex.

Research has shown that HPV may become a larger reason for people developing oral cancer in the years to come. It could even rival smoking as a risk factor for oral cancer. Oral cancer cases have increased dramatically and one of the reasons is the lack of awareness about sexual activity and its impact on oral health.

Read more: People Lack Knowledge About Link Between Oral Cancer, Sexual Health

There could be a new method to stop periodontitis.

By blocking a molecular receptor that is usually targeted by bacteria, scientists from the University of Pennsylvania have shown the ability to prevent periodontitis in a mouse model. They also demonstrated the ability to stop the progression of the disease once it has already begun developing.

The study appeared in the Journal of Immunology.

Previous research showed that Porphyromonas gingivalis, which is the bacterium that causes periodontitis, basically hijacks a receptor on white blood cells. The receptor, C5aR, is part of the complement system, which is also part of the immune system that aids in fighting infection.

Read more: Periodontitis may be Preventable

An area of Florida will begin to fluoridate its water again.

Pinellas County in Florida finally came to this conclusion after a heated public debate, grassroots education and advocacy from dentists, and voters’ rejection of two previous county commissioners. That’s all it took for the Pinellas County Commission to vote, 6-1, in favor of reinstating fluoridation to the county’s roughly 700,000 residents. The decision was made after three hours of public testimony for and against fluoridation.

The water fluoridation will take effect in March.

Read more: Fluoridation Issue Pops Up Again in Florida

Men in their 30s with inflamed gums may also have erection problems, according to a new study.

The study appeared in the Journal of Sexual Medicine. The correlation involving inflamed gums and erection problems was shown to exist when the inflammation was caused by severe periodontal disease.

To compile the data, a group of Turkish researchers analyzed information about 80 men ages 30 to 40 with erectile dysfunction and compared the results to 82 men without any erection problems.

Read more: Gum Problems, Erection Problems May be Related