Tag Archives: teeth

Health

‘Avoid’ rinsing mouth after brushing teeth dentist warns – removes strengthening mineral

Leave a comment

According to the Oral Health Foundation, at least one in three adults in the UK have some form of tooth decay, while one in four do not brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. Although regular dental check-ups are also key, looking after our teeth starts at home. Speaking exclusively with Express.co.uk, Bupa Dental Care dentist – Silviu Cartas – shared some of his top tips for maintaining strong and healthy teeth – including things to avoid.

He specifically advised against rinsing out the mouth after brushing with both water and mouthwash.

Mr Cartas said: “People tend to rinse their mouths after brushing.

“However, this causes the removal of fluoride from the teeth, which means it can’t benefit the teeth by strengthening the minerals in the enamel.

“Therefore, you should spit, not rinse, and avoid using mouthwash after brushing, as there is less fluoride in mouthwash than toothpaste.

READ MORE: Prostate cancer: The first symptoms Bill Turnbull ‘didn’t get checked’ – all signs to spot

“A more helpful habit is to use these fluoride rinses another time during the day or to follow the guidance given by your dentist or hygienist.”

He explained further: “Toothpaste has active ingredients that need time to release/attach to the teeth.

“Rinsing after brushing removes these ingredients and their benefits.

“Antibacterial/anticavity toothpaste deposits an adhesive polymer on the tooth (a protective shield); rinsing immediately after brushing dilutes it and eventually removes it.

DON’T MISS

Flossing

You may have heard your dentist say, ‘You should only floss between the teeth you are planning to keep,’ to remind you how important flossing is. Interdental cleaning, as it’s also known, and normal brushing should always complement each other, although most patients focus on brushing only.

Using these techniques together makes sure you cover more of the surface of your teeth, reducing the long-lasting action of the acids on hidden surfaces.

Storing the toothbrush

Keep your toothbrush holder away from the toilet and sink. Did you know that flushing the toilet can create an aerosol effect, spraying germs through the air?

Shutting the toilet lid can help but keeping toothbrushes as far away from the toilet as possible can reduce the number of bacteria that may land on them.

In addition, studies have shown that toothbrushes kept in the bathroom have traces of faeces on them.

Diet

A healthy, well-balanced diet can help reduce the damaging effects of the acids that come in contact with your teeth – most people are unaware of how certain foods can neutralise the acids in your mouth.

Changing your toothbrush

Not regularly changing your toothbrush means that cleaning your teeth will not be as efficient and, again, harmful bacteria will develop on it.

Not everybody knows how often to change their toothbrush and isn’t sure how to tell when their toothbrush needs changing.

Monitor the wear of your bristles and change them regularly, the advice being every three to four months for electric toothbrushes, however, it can vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.



Read original article here

Science

Fossilised teeth help scientists uncover secrets of mammals | Palaeontology

Leave a comment

Palaeontologists have identified the earliest example of a placental mammal in the fossil record to date, which could provide new insights into how our furry ancestors came to dominate Earth after the extinction of the dinosaurs.

They made the breakthrough by studying the odontological (tooth) equivalent of tree rings – growth lines and elements preserved in fossil teeth – which they used to reconstruct the day-to-day life of one of our early cousins: Pantolambda bathmodon, a stocky dog-pig-like creature, which trotted around approximately 62m years ago – soon after the dinosaur extinction.

Doing so revealed that Pantolambda mothers were pregnant for around seven months, before giving birth to a single, well-developed baby, sporting a mouthful of teeth, that suckled for only 1–2 months before becoming fully independent.

“Most of my career I’ve studied dinosaurs, but this project on mammal growth is the most exciting study I’ve ever been a part of, as I am astounded that we were able to identify chemical fingerprints of birth and weaning in teeth that are so old,” said Prof Stephen Brusatte at the University of Edinburgh, who was involved in the research.

Placental mammals account for the majority of mammalian species alive today, from humans, to tiny shrews, to giant whales. They give birth to relatively mature young, that have done much of their growth inside their mother, nourished through a placenta.

Although mammals existed during the time of dinosaurs, it wasn’t until they went extinct that mammals really began to diversify and grow big. One idea is that their ability to birth large, well-developed babies that had previously been nourished by a placenta, was key to their success. This style of growth and reproduction is also what enables human babies to be born with such large brains.

Yet precisely when this lifestyle emerged has been a mystery. Because the bones of early mammals were small and fragile, fossilised remnants of, for instance, hip bones, that could be used to glean insights into species’ reproductive styles, are often lacking. Better preserved are teeth, the size and shape of which palaeontologists have long-studied to learn about the lifestyles of extinct mammals.

The new technique builds on this tradition. It involves slicing fossil teeth into extremely thin sections to examine growth lines, and vaporising them to understand their chemistry at different stages of development. “It allows us to look at virtually any fossil mammal and reconstruct things like its gestation period, how long it suckled for, when it reached maturity, and how long it lived for – things we really weren’t able to do in fossil mammals before now,” said Dr Gregory Funston at the University of Edinburgh, who led the research.

In the case of Pantolambda, Funston was surprised to discover quite how advanced this trait appeared to be at this point in mammalian evolution.

“One of the closest analogues in terms of its development are things like giraffes, which are born right out on the plains, and they have to be moving within seconds or else they’re going to get hunted,” he said. “We would have expected these types of life histories to have arisen slowly, and then to have got more and more specialised over time, but what we’re seeing is that Pantolambda, only 4m years after the extinction, is already experimenting in this completely new way of life history.”

Funston hopes the study could open up a new frontier into research on fossil mammals, and how they evolved. “This method opens the most detailed window we could hope for into the daily lives of extinct mammals” he said.

Read original article here

Health

6 Signs You’re Grinding Your Teeth At Night (And What To Do About It)

Leave a comment

Nighttime is meant to be a period of peace and quiet — restful evenings, pleasant dreams and rejuvenation before another day. But, when you deal with teeth grinding, that probably isn’t the case. You end up with pain, tooth issues, and you may even wake up a little tired.

Plus, when you deal with teeth grinding ― or bruxism, as it’s known medically ― you will likely deal with repercussions that go way beyond the anticipated tooth pain and damage.

“Your dental health can affect your medical health,” said Dr. Floretta Cuffey-Terry, president of Robert T. Freeman Dental Society in Washington, D.C. If you are a chronic tooth grinder, you may experience adjacent issues that range from nutrition problems to an onslaught of stress.

Here, experts share the signs you should look out for if you think you may be grinding your teeth at night, along with some advice on how to address it.

Headaches

If you spend your sleeping hours grinding your teeth, it’s highly likely that you’ll end up with headaches as a result of that pressure in your mouth and jaw, said Dr. Albert Coombs, owner of Smile Services DC and member of the international dental implant association.

These morning headaches are basically your body’s way of coming down from an extreme amount of pressure overnight, he added. Tooth-grinding headaches generally occur around the temples and back toward the ears.

Jaw pain

Similarly to waking up with a headache, you may wake up with pain around your mouth muscles or notice fatigue in your jaw muscles, Cuffey-Terry said. This pain can last anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours, but will likely be at its worst when you wake up in the morning.

Jaw pain is not something you should be waking up with automatically, so if you notice this sensation, get in touch with your dentist.

Tooth pain

It may seem obvious, but if you have tooth pain or tooth soreness in the morning, you may be dealing with bruxism.

Dr. Marjan Moghadam, a clinical associate professor at New York University’s College of Dentistry, noted that toothaches are a clear sign of teeth grinding at night. And, they’re reason enough to call your dentist. (And even beyond morning tooth pain, toothaches at any time of day should be reported.)

Wear and tear on your teeth

According to Moghadam, “the act of grinding can cause tooth wear that over time can lead to destruction of the tooth structure itself, as well as the bone that supports the tooth in the jawbone.”

Specifically, if you’re looking in your mouth and notice that your tooth crown (which is the visible part of the tooth) is wearing down, you may be grinding your teeth at night, Cuffey-Terry added. In this instance, you may notice a chip in your tooth or discoloration in the form of white streaks.

You may also notice a shift in your teeth, Moghadam added. If you have a tooth that appears to be pushed forward or backward out of nowhere, you may be grinding your teeth while you sleep.

Science Photo Library via Getty Images

Headaches, jaw pain and toothaches are all signs of nighttime teeth grinding.

Sensitivity to hot and cold foods

That wear and tear on your teeth impacts how you eat, too. According to Coombs, it is also common to experience sensitivity to hot and cold foods and drinks if you are a chronic grinder.

“This has to do with the fact that, if you’re a prolonged grinder, you’ll start to see small fracture lines throughout the teeth,” he said. Those small fracture lines are “almost direct access to the nerve of the tooth.”

If that glass of ice cold water has a clear path to your tooth’s nerve, you better believe you’ll feel some sensitivity as soon as you take a sip.

Daytime sleepiness

Someone who constantly grinds their teeth may not realize it, but they are likely waking themselves up every couple of hours throughout the night, Coombs said.

This could be from discomfort or pain, or just the fact that a constantly moving mouth means a disruptive night of rest. As a result, you may be more likely to deal with sleepiness during the day.

Teeth grinding is more common now than it was pre-pandemic

You’re probably very aware that living through a pandemic has been stressful. So have things like inflation and political unrest, to name a few.

And stress manifests itself in more ways than you’d think, including teeth grinding.

The National Institutes of Health “did research in 2020 [that discovered] the linkage between stress and bruxism,” Coombs said. “What they found is 95% of people that are under an immense amount of stress show signs of bruxism.”

And who isn’t at least a little bit stressed right now?

Coombs added that the American Dental Association found a 70% increase in bruxism in a March 2021 poll, which cited the pandemic as the reason behind the increase in this stress response. If teeth grinding was something you never dealt with before, you’re not alone if you all of a sudden notice some teeth-grinding red flags.

If you suspect you’re grinding your teeth, see your dentist

If you think you’re grinding your teeth at night, you should seek professional help from your dentist, Moghadam said.

“The dentist can examine and evaluate the signs and symptoms in order to rule out any other issue — such as dental infection or other habits that could be contributing.”

They’ll also be able to make recommendations for the best next steps and treatments, which can include mouth guards, muscle relaxers or even stress management.

fbq('init', '1621685564716533'); fbq('track', "PageView");

var _fbPartnerID = null; if (_fbPartnerID !== null) { fbq('init', _fbPartnerID + ''); fbq('track', "PageView"); }

(function () { 'use strict'; document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function () { document.body.addEventListener('click', function(event) { fbq('track', "Click"); }); }); })();

Read original article here

Science

Ancient Fish Fossil Suggests That Teeth Didn’t Evolve From Inside The Mouth : ScienceAlert

Leave a comment

There are two theories about where teeth originated: They either evolved from external scales (the outside-in hypothesis) or from somewhere inside the mouth (the inside-out hypothesis).

Researchers studying a fossil of the Ischyrhiza mira species – an extinct sawfish that lived in North America around 65 to 100 million years ago – have found more evidence backing up the outside-in idea.

Like the sawsharks and sawfishes of today, the creature had jagged spikes around its snout to help ward off predators and forage for food. It’s thought that these spikes, called rostral denticles, are modified versions of the scales on the rest of the body.

In an attempt to examine the relationship between rostral denticles and scales, the team analyzed the hard enameloid outer layer of the snout spikes – but what they found was significantly different from what they were expecting.

A rostral denticle of I. mia. (Todd Cook/Penn State/Wiley Publications)

“Surprisingly, I. mira‘s rostral denticle enameloid was anything but simple,” says vertebrate paleontologist Todd Cook from Pennsylvania State University. “It was considerably more complex than the enameloid of body scales.”

“In fact, the overall organization of the enameloid in this ancient sawfish resembled that of modern shark tooth enameloid, which has been well-characterized.”

In particular, the enameloid on the fossil matches the enameloid on modern shark teeth in the way that it’s made up of bundled packages of fluorapatite microcrystals, arranged in neat lines near the surface of the tooth and more randomly arranged lower down.

Running through these layers are packed microcrystals positioned perpendicularly to the surface of the tooth. These different orientations give shark teeth their strength and stress resistance, and it looks like it’s the same story with the I. mira.

“It is likely that the bundled microcrystal arrangement of the enameloid of I. mira‘s rostral denticles also served as a way to withstand mechanical forces,” says Cook.

A rostral denticle cross section showing the bundled enameloid. (Todd Cook/Penn State/Wiley Publications)

While it’s not impossible that these scales and teeth evolved their bundled microstructures separately, it makes more sense if one came after the other – in other words, the outside-in hypothesis about where teeth came from.

Interestingly enough, the researchers didn’t actually intend to look into the evolutionary history of teeth when they began their analysis of rostral denticles, but their findings could have a significant impact on future studies in this field.

As more and more similarities are found between the outsides of marine creatures and the gnashers inside our mouths, it’s looking more likely that the teeth inside our mouths are actually highly evolved fish scales.

“This finding provides direct evidence supporting the outside-in hypothesis, as it shows that scales have the capacity to evolve a complex tooth-like enameloid outside of the mouth,” says Cook.

The research has been published in the Journal of Anatomy.

Read original article here

Science

‘Merciless’ sea monster with broken teeth prowled the seas 66 million years ago

Leave a comment

Artist impression of Thalassotitan.  (Image credit: Andrey Atuchin)

(opens in new tab)

A giant mosasaur with teeth like a killer whale ruled the oceans around Morocco towards the end of the Cretaceous period, a new study finds.

The extinct predator, named Thalassotitan atrox, grew to about 30 to 33 feet (9 to 10 meters) long and likely fed on any other marine reptiles it came across, including fellow mosasaurs. The name Thalassotitan comes from the Greek words “thalassa” and “titan,” meaning “sea giant,” and the species name atrox translates to “cruel” or “merciless,” according to the study.   

Researchers discovered fossilized skulls, jaws and other remains that they used to identify T. atrox near Casablanca in western Morocco, an area that was underwater during the Cretaceous period. 

The researchers found that the teeth of T. atrox were often chipped, broken or worn down, suggesting the species damaged them while violently attacking and biting through the bones of prey. 

Mosasaurs went extinct at the same time as the dinosaurs after a giant asteroid struck Earth 66 million years ago. The new finds add to a fossil record in Morocco that shows the ocean there was teeming with rich and diverse life before the asteroid hit.

“They tell us how life was rich and diversified just before the end of the ‘dinosaur era’, where animals had to specialise to have a place in their ecosystems,” co-author Nour-Eddine Jalil, a collection manager at the Palaeontology Research Center at the Museum of Natural History in Paris, said in a statement. “Thalassotitan completes the picture by taking on the role of the megapredator at the top of the food chain.”

Related: An 18-foot-long sea monster ruled the ancient ocean that once covered Kansas 

Mosasaurs were a diverse group of marine reptiles distantly related to modern lizards and snakes. They ruled the world’s oceans for millions of years when dinosaurs dominated on land. A 2014 study published in the journal Proceedings of the Zoological Institute RAS estimated that one mosasaur specimen from a different species in Russia called Mosasaurus hoffmanni was about 56 feet (17 meters) long.

The new species, therefore, wasn’t the biggest mosasaur, but it was still a top predator and filled a similar role in its ecosystem to killer whales (Orcinus orca) and great white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) today, according to the statement.

Most mosasaurs had long jaws and slender teeth, but T. atrox evolved a shorter, wider muzzle that increased its bite force and short, conical killer whale-like teeth that could endure the increased forces when biting large prey, according to the study.  

The researchers found fossilized bones of at least three other mosasaurs in the same rock beds as T. atrox that showed signs of acid damage, suggesting these mosasaurs were digested in the stomach of T. atrox and spat out again.

The study was published online Aug. 24 in the journal Cretaceous Research.

Originally published on Live Science.

Read original article here

Health

Why Brushing Teeth Is Key To Long Life: 6 Ways Gum Disease Can Lead To Major Health Problems

Leave a comment

If you thought that preventing gum disease is only to the benefit of your oral hygiene, think again. Gum disease, also called periodontitis, can be a prelude to more serious health problems far beyond your mouth. As it turns out, the health of your gums can dictate long term health from head to toe.

Millions of Americans currently suffer from gum disease. Symptoms include swollen, red and tender gums. Gum disease is curable if caught early. Avoiding gum disease is as simple as flossing regularly, brushing your teeth twice a day, using mouthwash, and going for routine check-ups at the dentist.

So just how is the condition linked to overall health? Research published on StudyFinds over the years reveals links between gum disease to everything from heart and blood pressure complications to mental health problems. Be sure to visit your dentist regularly to find out the health of your gums and learn ways to prevent periodontitis.

Here’s a look at some of the health issues tied to gum disease:

Increases risk of heart disease

Add gum disease to the growing list of factors that increase your risk of heart disease, according to findings. The association was stronger the more severe the periodontitis.

“Our study suggests that dental screening programs including regular check-ups and education on proper dental hygiene may help to prevent first and subsequent heart events.” says Dr. Giulia Ferrannini of the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden and study author. “We postulate that the damage of periodontal tissues in people with gum disease may facilitate the transfer of germs into the bloodstream. This could accelerate harmful changes to the blood vessels and/or enhance systemic inflammation that is harmful to the vessels.”

People with gum disease were 49% more likely to experience heart problems than people with healthy gums, the study concludes.

READ MORE: Having gum disease increases risk for future heart problems

Risk of developing mental health problems, autoimmune conditions

Poor dental health may also lead to poor mental health, a study reveals. Researchers from the University of Birmingham say developing gum disease can also increase a person’s risk of suffering from depression and anxiety over the next few years. Along with mental health problems, study authors found that a history of gum disease can significantly raise a person’s chances of developing autoimmune diseases, heart disease, and even metabolic disorders like diabetes.

Researchers examined the medical history of more than 64,000 people with a history of periodontal disease during the study. This includes gingivitis and periodontitis — a serious gum infection that leads to bleeding gums and can destroy the jawbone without immediate treatment. Overall, 60,995 participants had gingivitis and 3,384 had periodontitis.

Results show those with periodontal disease at the start of the study had a 37-percent higher risk of developing mental health problems over the next three years. Study authors note these issues include higher rates of depression, anxiety, and “serious mental illness.”

“An important implication of our findings is the need for effective communication between dental and other healthcare professionals to ensure patients obtain an effective treatment plan targeting both oral and wider health to improve their existing overall health and reduce the risk of future illness,” adds co-senior author Professor Krish Nirantharakumar.

READ MORE: Gum disease increases the risk of developing mental health problems by nearly 40%

Those with gum disease 9X more likely to die from COVID-19

It’s no secret that patients have been scared to enter the dentist’s office during COVID-19 due to all the tiny particles that can fly through the air. For people with gum issues however, getting a cleaning could actually save their lives. A study finds patients with gum disease who contract COVID-19 are an alarming nine times more likely to die.

An international team finds COVID patients are three times more likely to end up in intensive care or on a ventilator if they already suffer from periodontitis. Around half the world’s population over 30 years-old suffers from periodontitis. Gum disease causes swelling and bleeding in and around the gums which line the teeth.

If not treated properly, the inflammation can spread throughout the body and even infect the lungs. Coronavirus patients on ventilators could be particularly vulnerable as they are more likely to inhale oral bacteria, scientists say.

“The results of the study suggest that the inflammation in the oral cavity may open the door to the coronavirus becoming more violent,” study co-author Professor Lior Shapira of the Hebrew University. “Oral care should be part of the health recommendations to reduce the risk for severe COVID-19 outcomes.”

READ MORE: Gum disease patients 9 TIMES more likely to die from COVID-19!

From gum to gut: Periodontitis makes IBD worse

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) affects about three million people in the United States. An imbalance in the gut’s microbiome can be the cause of painful, and sometimes chronic, stomach conditions. A study suggests trouble in your gut may actually start with trouble in your mouth. Researchers from the University of Michigan say poor oral hygiene can make a person’s IBD worse.

The study reveals two possible ways bacteria in a patient’s mouth travels to the gut and causes more inflammation. Researcher Nobuhiko Kamada says there is growing evidence that people with IBD have an overgrowth of foreign bacteria in their gut. That bacteria, Kamada says, typically starts within one’s mouth.

Researchers say gum disease creates an unhealthy imbalance in the mouth’s microbiome. That bacteria causes both inflammation and disease which then travels down into the gut. This particular process doesn’t trigger IBD, researchers say, but it did aggravate the symptoms of mice with colon inflammation. “In mice with IBD, the healthy gut bacteria are disrupted, weakening their ability to resist disease-causing bacteria from the mouth,” explains Kamada.

The team also says periodontitis actually causes the body’s own immune system to damage the gut. Gum disease causes the immune system to react, sending T cells to the mouth to fight infection. In a healthy gut, inflammatory and regulatory T cells work in harmony and know how to tolerate local bacteria. Researchers say gum disease triggers mostly inflammatory T cells to react. Those cells eventually travel to the gut and throw off the natural balance, causing diseases to worsen.

READ MORE: Brush for your gut! Doctors say poor oral hygiene may make IBD worse

Strong connection to high blood pressure

What do puffy, bleeding gums have to do with high blood pressure? Apparently more than you might expect. Research shows that people battling gum disease are more likely to suffer from hypertension.

High blood pressure is the leading cause of premature deaths worldwide, impacting 30% to 45% of the population. Similarly, inflammation of the gums, connective tissue and bones supporting the teeth is present in more than half of the world’s population. Doctors say it’s no coincidence so many people struggle with both conditions.

Past research has suggested a link between the two ailments. For the study, researchers gathered information from 81 studies conducted in 26 countries. They sought to determine how often patients with moderate to severe cases of gum disease also have high blood pressure. Results showed that patients with periodontitis tended to have higher arterial blood pressure — 4.5 mmHg higher systolic (contracted) and 2 mmHg higher diastolic (resting) blood pressures, on average.

While this may seem like a small number, researchers say that just a 5 mmHg rise in blood pressure increases the risk of death from heart attack or stroke by 25%. In all, the authors calculated that the odds of having hypertension were 22% higher for patients with moderate to severe periodontitis and 49% higher for patients with severe periodontitis.

READ MORE: Gum Disease Has Strong Connection To High Blood Pressure, Study Finds

Gum disease linked to Alzheimer’s disease

Brushing your teeth twice a day will do more than just clean your teeth, it may also help prevent Alzheimer’s disease, a study finds.

Researchers from the University of Bergen in Norway say that the bacteria that causes the gum disease gingivitis — P. gingivalis — was found in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients and is believed to significantly raise one’s odds of developing the condition. Enzymes produced by the bacteria, known as gingipains, destroy nerve cells in the brain and cause memory loss, before turning into Alzheimer’s, the authors say.

For the study, researchers recruited 53 people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and found the bacteria in the brains of 96% of participants. Though the bacteria doesn’t cause Alzheimer’s by itself, researchers say that it plays a major role in its development and may also cause it to progress faster.

“We discovered DNA-based proof that the bacteria causing gingivitis can move from the mouth to the brain,” says study co-author Piotr Mydel, a researcher from the Department of Clinical Science at the university.

READ MORE: Brush teeth twice a day helps keep Alzheimer’s disease away, study finds

As always, check with your dentist and doctor about issues dealing with your oral hygiene or any concerns you have with the health issues listed in this article.



Read original article here

Health

The far-reaching consequences of bad teeth

Leave a comment

The emerging links between our oral health and this host of other conditions has a very significant upshot: it is easy to lower your risk of getting periodontitis, and to treat it effectively if you already have it.

“If we brush our teeth properly and have good oral hygiene, then potentially we can prevent the onset of periodontitis,” says Wu.

If the disease does set in, then in the early stages it can be treated with scaling and root planing, which scrapes microbes off the lower tooth surface above and just below the gum line. If you have serious periodontitis, the solution may include surgical treatment, “which means you loosen the soft tissue of the gums and clean the root surfaces, and put the tissue back”, says Holmstrup.

The problem is detection, due to the disease’s often symptomless nature coupled with the common misconception that unless you have severe tooth pain, you don’t need to go to the dentist. The solution there is again simple: if you’re due an appointment, don’t delay.

—

In the forthcoming second part of this two-part story, BBC Future examines the best evidence-based ways to brush your teeth – and avoid this cohort of chronic diseases.

—

Martha Henriques is Editor of BBC Future Planet, and tweets at @Martha_Rosamund

—

Join one million Future fans by liking us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter or Instagram.

If you liked this story, sign up for the weekly bbc.com features newsletter, called “The Essential List” – a handpicked selection of stories from BBC Future, Culture, Worklife, Travel and Reel delivered to your inbox every Friday.



Read original article here

Health

Have trouble grinding your teeth? Here’s how to control it.

Leave a comment

Placeholder while article actions load

Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with any advertisers on this site.

Dentists reported a 69 percent jump in patients who clench or grind their teeth during the pandemic, according to the American Dental Association (ADA). And most of these people are probably unaware that they’re doing it. “It’s an almost completely unconscious behavior,” says Vicki Cohn, chair of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine’s Dental Assembly.

The condition, called bruxism, can apply up to 200 pounds of force to the teeth. “The bite strength of grinding can be up to six times greater than normal chewing,” says Ada Cooper, a dentist and a spokesperson for the American Dental Association. So it’s no surprise that it can wear down or even break teeth. And for older adults — whose teeth may be more fragile — bruxism may be especially troubling.

In these trying times, dentists are seeing more people with teeth-grinding and jaw-clenching — a.k.a. bruxism

Bruxism can occur during the day or at night. Stress can be a significant factor, either in moments of acute tension or during sleep, when elevated levels of stress hormones may still circulate after a difficult day, Cohn says. Habits such as alcohol and tobacco use hike the likelihood, too. “Smokers are about twice as likely to grind their teeth as nonsmokers,” Cooper says. Certain medications — such as some antidepressants and antipsychotics — can also increase the risk.

Conditions that affect the central nervous system, such as dementia, Parkinson’s disease or stroke, can cause or exacerbate bruxism. And it often goes hand in hand with temporomandibular joint disorders, which cause pain around the jaw. Finally, there’s obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), where the upper airway becomes repeatedly blocked during sleep, leading to numerous breathing pauses at night. This can cause people with OSA to “unconsciously overcompensate and grind their teeth as they thrust their jaw forward to open the airway,” says Manar Abdelrahim, a dentist at Cleveland Clinic. (If you’re told you have OSA, ask about being evaluated for bruxism.)

Untreated sleep apnea may worsen markers of heart health and diabetes

A cracked tooth, crown or filling may be a clear signal something is amiss, but there are less dramatic signs to watch for. People with sleep bruxism, for instance, may wake up with a sore jaw or neck, a headache, a stiff jaw, ringing in the ears, or marks around the edge of the tongue where it pressed against clenched teeth. If you notice these, see your dentist, who will check for tooth wear, fractures and gum recession. But “if the only evidence is wear on your teeth, you might not have active bruxism,” Cohn says. Chronic severe heartburn is a common cause of tooth wear in older adults.

A video recording in a sleep lab or electromyography can definitively diagnose sleep bruxism. For the latter, electrodes attached to the skin check for repetitive jaw muscle movements.

Need a quick stress-reliever? Try one of these surprising science-based strategies.

While bruxism can be hard to remedy, the following may help:

  • A plastic mouth guard: “Wearing a guard at night is usually the number one line of defense,” Abdelrahim says. “A guard puts space between the upper and lower teeth to protect them and allows the jaw muscles to relax.” A guard customized for you ($324 to $788) is usually more effective than an over-the-counter product, and is sometimes covered by insurance. Neither breaks the habit but will prevent further tooth damage.
  • Botox: Botulinum toxin injections into the jaw muscles that control chewing may reduce the pressure you exert on teeth.
  • Stress reduction: Relaxing activities (such as yoga and meditation) may help. So can increasing your awareness of the behavior. A tip: “If, during a stressful moment, you feel your teeth touching, gently allow your jaw to open and the teeth to float away from each other,” Cooper says.
  • Physical therapy: A physical therapist trained to treat bruxism can teach you exercises to stretch, strengthen and relax neck and jaw muscles, which can reduce the muscle tension that may lead to clenching and grinding.

Copyright 2022, Consumer Reports Inc.

Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. CR does not endorse products or services, and does not accept advertising. Read more at ConsumerReports.org.

Read original article here

Health

Nurse, 28, discovers she was growing a 20LB tumor filled with HAIR AND TEETH

Leave a comment

A woman who turned to doctors for help after spending years struggling to lose weight was left horrified to learn that she had a 20lb tumor filled with hair and teeth growing around her ovary.   

Jaimi Conwell, 28, a nurse from Texas, struggled with her weight for years, explaining that she was unable to slim down no matter how hard she tried, despite putting herself on a range of strict diets – including calorie cutting and keto – as well as exercising twice a day. 

To make matters worse, Jaimi began rapidly gaining even more weight two years ago, which was coupled with a host of worrying new symptoms, including nausea. 

Concerned, she decided to seek advice from doctors, who eventually revealed the bizarre cause of her condition: an enormous 20lb ovarian tumor that had completely engulfed her right ovary, having been steadily growing inside her body for Jaimi’s entire life.  

Now, Jaimi is speaking out about her shocking diagnosis, while revealing the dramatic physical transformation that she underwent after having the tumor removed – enabling her to shed a staggering 103lbs in a matter of months. 

A 28-year-old nurse has revealed her horror at learning that she had a 20lb tumor filled with hair and teeth growing around her right ovary

Jaimi Conwell, from Texas, was diagnosed with a teratoma in March 2021 and she’s now speaking out about her condition, revealing she lost 103lbs after having the growth removed 

The nurse originally sought medical help after struggling to lose weight for years; an explorative procedure revealed the 20lb tumor that was growing around her right ovary

Explaining her decision to ask doctors for help after so many years of weight battles, the nurse said she only did so when she began to experience other symptoms that she realized were likely an indication that something was wrong.  

‘I would bend over to tie my shoe and get nauseous, which I thought was normal for bigger people,’ she said. ‘I got my blood count checked to make sure everything was normal and my white blood cells came back abnormal.’

Doctors recommended that Jaimi undergo an explorative procedure, which would allow them to better identify the source of her medical issues; she was placed under anesthesia for the operation, while her mother was given control over any decisions that might need to be made. 

It was during this procedure that doctors found the tumor, which they decided to remove – along with Jaimi’s right ovary – over fears that the growth could have been cancerous. 

‘I was placed under anesthesia, but was with my mom who I made a proxy so she could make any decisions for me,’ Jaimi recalled.

‘The doctor came in and told her I had a massive tumor in my abdomen that had engulfed my right ovary.

‘He asked if they could remove it and my mom agreed, so I had the tumor along with my right ovary removed. 

Jaimi spent years trying and failing to lose weight; despite trying several diets and workouts, she could never shift the pounds (left) and later learned it was because of the tumor. Since having it removed, she’s shed 103lbs (right)

In March 2021, Jaimi (pictured before her surgery) began experiencing other symptoms, including nausea, which prompted her to go to the doctor 

Blood tests revealed that Jaimi (seen recently) had an abnormal white blood cell count and doctors later learned this was because of her tumor, which had been growing for years  

Jaimi had to have her right ovary removed along with the tumor and admits she was devastated at the thought that this might prevent her from conceiving children 

‘After I woke up, I took a walk with my mom and I could see the worry in her face, so I knew something wasn’t right.

What are ovarian teratomas and WHY do they contain teeth and hair? 

Ovarian teratomas come from germ cells, which form human eggs and can create hair, teeth and bone, among other structures.

They are believed to be present at birth, but are often not discovered until later in life.

They are a rare form of germ cell tumor and are usually diagnosed in girls and young women up to their early 20s.

They are either classed as immature because the cancer cells are at a very early stage of development, or mature (also known as a dermoid cyst) because the growth is benign.

Most immature teratomas of the ovary are cured, even if they are diagnosed at an advanced stage. 

‘She told me about the tumor and that they were unsure if it was benign.

‘I was in so much shock, that I can’t remember how I was thinking or feeling at the time. At one point though, I remember thinking: “Am I going to die? Did I even live the life I wanted to?”‘

Although she was stunned, Jaimi agreed with the choice to remove her right ovary as multiple tests showed how dangerous the tumor was.

Eventually, she was diagnosed with a teratoma tumor – a slow-growing tumor that had been growing her entire life.

Because of the size of the 20lb tumor, doctors believe that it overtook all the nutrients she was giving her body in order to grow. 

‘I was in shock, as that’s like having three kids inside of you,’ Jaimi said. ‘[I was told] that it was also growing teeth, which was an absolute shock.

‘It also grew hair and I think that was more disgusting for me than anything.’

While doctors have not been able to confirm what caused the tumor to begin growing, Jaimi says they believe that her mother may have conceived a twin when she got pregnant with Jaimi. 

That fetus may have then turned into the growth that was found on Jaimi’s ovary.

‘They said it could be due to a number of things and as my mom, grandfather and aunties are twins, maybe I had a twin in my mom’s womb,’ Jaimi explained. 

While Jaimi was relieved to have had the tumor removed, she confessed that she was left terrified that having her ovary removed would hamper her future attempts to conceive children.

Ovarian teratomas like Jaimi’s (pictured) come from germ cells, which form human eggs and can create hair, teeth and bone, among other structures

Jaimi decided to upload her transformation to TikTok, after her sister said she should share her weight loss journey

‘At first, I thought that [having my right ovary removed] meant that I couldn’t have kids and I was devastated. All I have ever wanted was to have kids and start a big family,’ she said.

‘I was so depressed and crying all the time, until I saw my OBGYN who assured me that all my hormones and eggs will go to my left ovary.

‘I shouldn’t have any issues getting pregnant, but not being able to have kids is still heavy in the back of my mind.’

Armed with the knowledge that the tumor was likely the reason she had failed to lose weight so far, she returned to her diet and exercise regime, eating protein shakes, fish, chicken and salads.

One year on, she has lost 103lbs and now weighs 147lbs.

Jaimi decided to upload her transformation to TikTok, after her sister said she should share her weight loss journey.

In a clip, which has received 1.8 million views and over 437,000 likes, she shows off her transformation.

She starts with a video of herself before losing the weight, as she lip syncs: ‘If I get pretty one day, it’s over for you b****es.’

As she cuts to a clip revealing her transformation, she lip syncs: ‘I would just like to announce, that it is now over for you b****es.’

‘You’re so pretty,’ one viewer commented, followed by a love heart emoji.

Another person added: ‘You were beautiful before and beautiful now.’

‘It really is over for me,’ someone else said.

One person wrote: ‘Why’s my glow up passing me?’

‘You lowkey look like Kylie Jenner to me,’ another viewer said.

Someone else commented: ‘Naaahhhh comment section tripping, your transformation is insaneeee.’ [sic]

Read original article here

Science

Mysterious ‘hypercarnivore’ with blade-like teeth roamed California 42 million years ago

Leave a comment

An unidentified fossil collected more than three decades ago was actually a mysterious species of saber-toothed carnivore that once stalked prey through the ancient rainforests of Southern California.

The fossil includes a near-complete lower jawbone and a set of well-preserved teeth, according to a new study, published Tuesday (March 15) in the journal PeerJ. Paleontologists at the San Diego Natural History Museum (The Nat) originally collected the specimen in 1988 from a site known as the Santiago Formation in Oceanside, a city in San Diego County, California. The geological formation is estimated to be about 42 million years old, so fossils from the site date back to the Eocene epoch (55.8 million to 33.9 million years ago), according to the American Museum of Natural History.

When the fossilized jawbone was initially discovered, “it had been very properly identified as a meat-eating animal,” said study co-author Ashley Poust, a postdoctoral researcher in vertebrate paleontology at the Nat. The specimen bears “big, slicing, scissoring teeth” that are ideally suited for shredding fresh meat, rather than for crunching through nuts or gnawing on bones, for instance, Poust said. 

The museum paleontologists originally thought these formidable teeth might belong to a nimravid, a type of cat-like hypercarnivore, an animal whose diet consisted mostly of meat. The nimravids are often called “false saber-toothed cats,” as they resemble the famous felines but don’t belong to the Felidae family as true cats do, Live Science previously reported.  

Related: My, what sharp teeth! 12 living and extinct saber-toothed animals 

This fossil has been in The Nat’s collection since 1988. It was recovered in Oceanside by the museum’s PaleoServices team. (Image credit: San Diego Natural History Museum (CC 4.0))

However, study co-author Hugh Wagner, a paleontologist at the Nat, later suggested that the jawbone might belong to a more mysterious group of hypercarnivores with scant representation in the fossil record: the machaeroidines. Remains of these strange beasts have been uncovered only at select sites in Asia and North America, and prior to the new study, only 14 specimens had ever been found, according to the PeerJ report. The now-extinct group includes the earliest known saber-toothed mammalian carnivores, which are not closely related to any living carnivores.

Two of these specimens — a partial skeleton and a jawbone — were discovered in Wyoming and Utah and described in prior papers by the study’s co-first author Shawn Zack, an assistant professor at the University of Arizona College of Medicine and an expert in ancient carnivores. For the new paper, Zack, Poust and Wagner teamed up to reexamine the perplexing carnivore jawbone in the Nat’s collection and determine, once and for all, whether it belonged to a machaeroidine.

The team snapped photos of the fossil from many angles in order to construct a detailed 3D model of the bone and teeth, and after a thorough examination, they confirmed that the specimen was not only a machaeroidine, but a never-before-seen genus and species of machaeroidine.

They named the newfound creature Diegoaelurus vanvalkenburghae in honor of San Diego County, where the specimen was found, and scientist Blaire Van Valkenburgh, a past president of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology whose work greatly influenced scientists’ understanding of carnivore evolution.

“Finding this particular group was pretty surprising,” because no other machaeroidine specimens in the U.S. had been found west of the Rocky Mountains, Poust told Live Science. “We didn’t know that these occurred out here at all.” 

Related: Ancient footprints to tiny ‘vampires’: 8 rare and unusual fossils

Based on the size of the jawbone, the researchers determined that D. vanvalkenburghae was about the size of a bobcat, according to the study. The animal carried blade-like, slicing teeth in the back of its mouth and had “sort of reduced teeth in the front — it’s totally lost the first [tooth] behind its lower canine,” Poust said. Modern cats also have this gap behind their lower canines, to make space for their large upper canines to bite down, he noted. In addition to this gap, D. vanvalkenburghae had a downturned, bony chin that also would have helped to accommodate its impressive saber teeth. 

Study author Ashley Poust holds the recently named D. vanvalkenburghae fossil in front of the skull of a saber-toothed cat, a much larger carnivore that emerged millions of years after D. vanvalkenburghae. (Image credit: San Diego Natural History Museum (CC 4.0))

About 42 million years ago, D. vanvalkenburghae would have lived in a very different environment than can be found in San Diego County today, Poust noted. 

The Eocene kicked off with a period of extensive warming, which fueled the growth of hot, humid rainforests around the world, according to the American Museum of Natural History. Fossils recovered from Santiago Formation suggest that the lush rainforests of ancient Southern California were once home to lemur-like primates, marsupials, boar-size tapirs and tiny rhinos. In theory, D. vanvalkenburghae may have preyed on these animals, although the predator’s exact diet is unknown, Poust said.

The new species helps fill out the sparse machaeroidine fossil record, but it also raises new questions about the cat-like predators, Poust said. 

For example, did D. vanvalkenburghae ever coexist and compete for prey with nimravids? The oldest nimravid remains found in the U.S. are roughly 5 million years younger than the newly identified D. vanvalkenburghae fossil, so it would partially depend on when the machaeroidine went extinct. The exact timing and reason for this extinction also remain mysterious, although it’s clear that machaeroidines died out many millions of years before the emergence of true saber-toothed cats (Smilodon), Poust noted. 

Originally published on Live Science. 

Read original article here

The Ultimate News Site