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New research has explored the possibility of text messages being used as a method of improving toothbrushing frequency among teenagers. The research also looked to see if text messages can help to reduce tooth decay. Getting into good oral hygiene habits at a young age is important.

Many parents are all too familiar with the idea that getting the attention of their teenage son or daughter is far from easy – especially when they have a smartphone in their hand.

Some may have resorted to messaging their son or daughter on their phone to remind them of something. Now, new research has shown that such an approach may actually benefit the toothbrushing habits of teenagers [1].

The research suggests that teenagers are receptive to text message reminders about toothbrushing. This could benefit their oral health and overall wellbeing.

Background

This research involved looking at the oral health habits of teenagers. As discussed, smartphone use is rife among this age group. In fact, research shows that teenagers spend an average of 8 and a half hours on screens per day – a staggering amount [2].

Looking after oral health in teenage years is important. By having a strong oral hygiene routine, it can set habits that teenagers can hopefully take forward for the rest of their life.

However, tooth decay is a very common problem in teenagers. Research shows that tooth decay affects around a third of those aged between 12 and 15 [3].

The researchers also wanted to place some focus on youngsters living in areas of poverty. Tooth decay affects almost 50% of youngsters in areas of poverty [3].

Tooth decay can cause a range of problems. For example, these include toothache, eating problems, an infection, poor sleep, and reduced school attendance and performance.

The Research

The research was carried out by a team from the University of Sheffield in England. Moreover, they collaborated with other institutions across the United Kingdom. Subsequently, their findings were published in the Health Technology Assessment journal [1].

The study involved the creation of the BRIGHT trial, which involved 4,680 students aged 11 to 13 across 42 schools in England, Scotland and Wales [1].

For the purposes of the study, the students were split into two groups. One group would receive a 50-minute lesson delivered in a classroom by teachers, and two text messages per day to their mobile phone to remind them about toothbrushing [1].

The second group didn’t receive any of the above, other than routine education [1]. The researchers wanted to see what impact these text messages would have.

All 4,680 participants had their teeth examined at the start of the study. The text messages continued over a two-and-a-half-year period [1].

At the end of the period, the participants had their teeth re-examined. The researchers were looking to see if there was an increase or decrease in tooth decay.

The researchers then compared the groups to see if the group that had received the text messages had seen more of an improvement in their oral health than those that didn’t receive the texts [1].

The Results

The research produced mixed results. Overall, the impact on cavity prevention was minimal, with the two groups showing very little difference. Therefore, this means that the text messages didn’t particularly contribute towards lessening the need for restorative work like fillings [1].

However, there were some positives. The results showed that the text messages were particularly effective for students coming from low-income families. Their analysis found some evidence of tooth decay prevention among this group [1]. So this meant that those from low-income families were helped by the text messages.

Furthermore, the researchers also asked the participants to self-report on the frequency that they brushed their teeth. Promisingly, self-reported brushing habits improved after six months [1].

Therefore, this is another benefit to emanate from the text messages. With more people brushing their teeth, this should help their oral health in the long-term.

Summary

In conclusion, while the text messages may not have had the impact that the researchers hoped, there were certainly modest improvements.

The most positive element of the research was the excellent impact it had on teenagers from areas with high rates of poverty. This is very positive, as those from a poverty-stricken background are more vulnerable to oral health problems.

Professor Zoe Marshman of the University of Sheffield’s School of Clinical Dentistry has commented on the findings. She has mentioned that secondary school represents “a critical stage for toothbrushing practices to become an established behaviour for adulthood” [3].

Continuing, Marshman says that “it is vital to help young people to improve their understanding of the importance of toothbrushing and skills to prevent tooth decay” [3]. Therefore, this underlines how crucial toothbrushing is for this age group.

In terms of the next steps, the research team are hoping to use these findings to investigate what other measures can be put in place to help teenagers with their oral health.

The aim is that in the long term, we will see an improvement in the oral health of teenagers around the world. Text messages appear to offer a promising option in this regard.

Thinking points…

1) Having a strong oral health routine is crucial not only during teenage years, but also in adulthood! Remember to look after your teeth and brush frequently. Another important thing to do is to attend regular dental check-ups, as these allow a dentist to examine your oral health and notice any problems. We recommend that you book an appointment now!

2) Do you have a teenage son or daughter? If so, this research is very relevant! As seen above, having text reminders can be helpful to increase toothbrushing frequency. With this in mind, you could arrange for your children to get reminders on their phone to brush their teeth. Why not look into this possibility right away?!

What we offer at Savanna Dental

Savanna Dental is a dental clinic based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. We provide our patients with a range of treatment options and advice, with the aim of improving oral health and boosting overall wellbeing!

We advise our patients to attend our Calgary-based dental clinic twice a year for a dental check-up. If any problems are detected, we have many treatments available. For instance, these include cavity fillings and root canals. To try and prevent problems, it is important to brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss regularly.

Here at Savanna Dental, we also have some cosmetic treatments available! These include dental implants, tooth whitening and Invisalign™! Our patients find that these treatments have a positive impact on their appearance, confidence and self-esteem.

In addition, the fees of our services at our Calgary dental clinic Savanna Dental are set in line with the Alberta Dental Fee Guide.

We would love you to visit our Savanna Dental clinic in Calgary! You can find out more about us by visiting our website https://savannadentalclinic.ca/!

References

[1] Marshman, Z., Ainsworth, H., & Fairhurst, C., et al. (2024). Behaviour change intervention (education and text) to prevent dental caries in secondary school pupils: BRIGHT RCT, process and economic evaluation. Health Technology Assessment. 28 (52). DOI: https://doi.org/10.3310/JQTA2103.

[2] Rosenberg, D., & Szura, N. (2023). Teens are spending the equivalent of a 40-hour work week on their devices. Here’s how to help them find the right balance. Available: https://fortune.com/well/2023/10/24/teens-too-much-screen-time-find-balance/. Last accessed: 23rd October 2024.

[3] University of Sheffield. (2024). Text message reminders can help improve oral health in teenagers. Available: https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/news/text-message-reminders-can-help-improve-oral-health-teenagers. Last accessed: 23rd October 2024.

Patients with Dementia are at a higher risk of oral health problems. Therefore, they should be prioritizing their oral health. But a research team has looked to see if patients receive the oral healthcare they need, and if they look after their own oral health. In concerning results, they found that oral health is commonly ignored and overlooked in this vulnerable population.

Dementia is a debilitating condition that impacts multiple areas of the lives of those suffering. It involves memory problems and physical issues.

While suffering with dementia is difficult enough, new research has found that dementia patients routinely have their oral health needs overlooked [1].

This concerning finding suggests that significant work needs to be done to ensure that dementia patients receive oral healthcare, which can boost their overall health.

What is Dementia?

Dementia is a syndrome that is associated with ongoing cognitive decline, worsening brain functioning, and physical health issues [2].

Dementia impacts the way someone thinks, sees, feels, remembers and behaves [2]. It is difficult for the person with the condition, as well as their loved ones.

Dementia is a common condition. The study that will be discussed took place in the United Kingdom. In the UK, 1 in 11 people aged over 65 has Dementia.

Research has also shown a connection between poor oral health and an increase in the chance of the onset of dementia in later life [3]. This underlines the importance of looking after our oral health.

The Research

This research was completed by a triumvirate of English universities. The University of Portsmouth, King’s College London and Queen Mary University worked in collaboration for the research, which was published in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry [1].

The study involved the research team analyzing Care Act assessments for patients with dementia who live at home whilst receiving family support and/or paid care services [1]. This is opposed to someone receiving treatment in a specialized care home or medical facility.

The researchers interviewed caregivers, home-care workers and home-care managers. Moreover, assessments were reviewed, with the aim of seeing how many involved oral health.

Unfortunately, they found that oral hygiene was rarely addressed in these assessments. Therefore, the team pointed out that oral hygiene is essentially forgotten about, and in many cases, not recorded [1].

The team wanted to know why this was the case. During the interviews, they found some common themes. They were told that declining understanding, memory problems and physical disabilities all impacted their ability to complete oral health tasks themselves [1].

Furthermore, the problems were worsened due to inadvertent errors from those caring for the patients – typically caused by limited time, a lack of training and poor communication [1].

However, those being interviewed did show a good understanding of the importance of oral health – which was positive.

The research team put together free checklists that can be used by social workers and home care providers. These checklists were developed in association with experts in dementia and dental care [1].

The checklists feature a list of activities or tasks that each patient should complete. For instance, it includes brushing teeth, using mouthwash, flossing, and attending regular dental check-ups.

Author Comments

The results of the research are concerning to the authors. The research shows that an already vulnerable population is missing out on important oral healthcare.

Dr. Dia Soilemezi from the University of Portsmouth’s Department of Psychology has said that “good mouth and teeth care is important for people living with dementia in their own homes because they are at higher risk of dental problems and may find it difficult to report pain or discomfort” [4].

Continuing, Soilemezi underlines the wider impact of neglecting oral health, saying that “poor oral health not only influences physical health but also impacts self-esteem, dignity, nutrition and quality of life, so it needs to be taken seriously” [4].

Currently, the situation is not being taken seriously. Many dementia patients are seeing their oral health worsen by the day. It is important for policy makers to be aware of these findings, and for them to act to improve the situation.

The checklists put forward by the researchers are helpful. If these checklists are followed, it should result in oral healthcare being a priority for patients, resulting in an improvement in their dental health and overall quality of life.

Looking after oral health is crucial for everyone. But in more vulnerable patients like those with dementia, it is even more important. Therefore, increasing focus on the oral health of dementia patients is vital.

Thinking points…

1) As discussed earlier, research has shown there is a connection between poor oral health and an increased likelihood of having dementia in later life. Therefore, looking after your oral health can boost your chances of avoiding this condition. Remember to attend regular dental check-ups, as these provide a dentist with the chance to look at your oral health and provide advice. We recommend booking an appointment now!

2) Do you know anyone with dementia? The findings of this research are important – especially for those with the condition. Therefore, you could explain this article to them, or share this article with your social network. Increasing awareness of this situation can help to make policy makers aware of the need for change. Why not share the article now?

What we offer at Savanna Dental

Savanna Dental is a dental clinic based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. We provide our patients with a range of treatment options and advice, with the aim of improving oral health and boosting overall wellbeing!

We advise our patients to attend our Calgary-based dental clinic twice a year for a dental check-up. If any problems are detected, we have many treatments available. For instance, these include cavity fillings and root canals. To try and prevent problems, it is important to brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss regularly.

Here at Savanna Dental, we also have some cosmetic treatments available! These include dental implants, tooth whitening and Invisalign™! Our patients find that these treatments have a positive impact on their appearance, confidence and self-esteem.

In addition, the fees of our services at our Calgary dental clinic Savanna Dental are set in line with the Alberta Dental Fee Guide.

We would love you to visit our Savanna Dental clinic in Calgary! You can find out more about us by visiting our website https://savannadentalclinic.ca/!

References

[1] Soilemezi, D., Wantonyi, K., Hill, V., & Manthorpe, J. (2023). Views of homecare staff and carers on oral needs and dental care for people living with dementia: A qualitative study. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. 38 (12): e6039. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/gps.6039.

[2] NHS. (2023). About dementia. Available: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/dementia/about/. Last accessed: 23rd March 2024.

[3] Kiuchi, S., Cooray, U., Kusama, T., Yamamoto, T., Abbas, H., Nakazawa, N., Kondo, L., Osaka, K., & Aida, J. (2022). Oral Status and Dementia Onset: Mediation of Nutritional and Social Factors. Journal of Dental Research. 101 (4): p420-427. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/00220345211049399.

[4] University of Portsmouth. (2024). Mouth and dental care for people with dementia often overlooked, study finds. Available: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-08-mouth-dental-people-dementia-overlooked.html. Last accessed: 9th August 2024.

Many people use braces as a way of straightening their teeth and to improve their oral health. However, braces do not always fit, and can become loose easily – which inhibits their impact. But new research has shown that artificial intelligence can assist with straightening teeth, and provide much more accurate fittings for aligners. This research can help many people.

Anyone that has had braces in the past will know about the difficulties of them being placed correctly and comfortably. Moreover, they are often either too loose or too tight.

However, this could soon be a thing of the past. Researchers have developed a new tool which – with assistance from Artificial Intelligence (AI) – can predict how teeth will move to ensure that braces fit well and are comfortable [1].

This is very positive news, and could result in far more comfort for many with braces. It is also an example of AI’s growing influence on dental research.

Background

This research looked at braces. Braces are tools that help to straighten teeth. They are extremely effective, helping to enhance a person’s appearance, prevent tooth decay and dental injuries, and protect teeth from misaligning.

Braces are very common. For example, in the United States, around 4.5 million people wear braces at any one time [2]. It isn’t just children either that wear them, over 1 million adults wear them in the United States too.

Even though braces are incredibly common, it can be very challenging for orthodontists to fit them in a way that will result in comfort for their patients. Even when they do fit initially, teeth continue to shift slightly throughout a person’s life.

For those whose braces do not fit correctly, it can inhibit the aligning process and cause discomfort in eating and general mouth movement. Therefore, any way of improving the fitting process of aligners can be helpful.

The Research

The research was conducted by a team from the University of Copenhagen and technology company 3Shape. Their research has been published in the IEEE Access journal [1].

The team aimed to create a tool that could simulate how braces should fit on a patient to predict the exact shape that can best-straighten a patient’s teeth [1].

The research took place in Denmark, where around 30% of Danish youth up to the age of 15 wear braces [1].

A crucial part of the research process was to use scanned imagery of teeth and bone structures from human jaws. Then, AI used these to predict how braces should be designed.

The research also involved a process where the researchers mapped sets of human teeth using detailed CT scans of teeth and the periodontal ligaments – which are a connective tissues that holds teeth in the jaw [1].

This creates a precise digital imitation of the human jaw. This type of imitation is known as a “digital twin”, with the researchers building up a large database of “digital dental patients” [1]. The idea of the “digital patient” is relatively new in healthcare, but can certainly help with oral health.

So how will this work in practice? The computer model is capable of creating accurate 3D simulations of a patient’s jaw, which can be taken ahead of the alignment process.

Then, when the orthodontist is preparing the aligners, they can use the 3D simulation to match up aligners that should fit well. This should reduce the need for trial and error and repeated visits.

The simulation produced incredibly accurate results. Therefore, they can be applied to individual patients, with the 3D simulations capable of producing strong imitations of each patient’s teeth.

Author Comments

The researchers were pleased with the outcome of the research. Moreover, this research is also another example of how AI is impacting dentistry in a positive way.

Professor Kenny Erbelen of the University of Copenhagen, was one of the authors. Erbelen commented on the findings, stating that the “simulation is able to let an orthodontist know where braces should and shouldn’t exert pressure to straighten teeth” – thereby aiding the fitting process [3].

Furthermore, Erbelen pointed out that the current process involves “a great deal of trial and error”, but that the simulation can help to “reduce [this process] in the long run” [3].

Returning to the discussion surrounding the “digital dental patients”, the authors also pointed out that this could be extended to use for physical health. For example, the researchers argued this could be used for hip implants. This is an exciting additional development.

The researchers did caution that the tool would need to clear some regulatory hurdles before being offered by orthodontists. But they believe this is a strong possibility in the near future.

Overall, these findings are positive, and should result in improved treatment outcomes for patients going forward. Having more comfort with aligners is important, with this tool likely to help with this.

Thinking points…

1) Are you looking for aligners? If so, then it is useful to know that here at our Calgary dental clinic Savanna Dental, we offer a range of alignment services, including Invisalign™. Our process involves an initial consultation, before the moulds are prepared for you. We also keep in regular contact with you to ensure that the aligners are working well and that you are happy with the progress of your teeth. If you are interested, we would love to hear from you soon – see our website https://savannadentalclinic.ca for more!

2) If you either have naturally straight teeth, or have recently finished using braces, remember to not get complacent! It is important to look after your teeth, which involves attending the dentist for a check-up on a regular basis. At an appointment, your dentist can look to see if there are any problems and provide treatment options if needed. We recommend booking an appointment now!

What we offer at Savanna Dental

Savanna Dental is a dental clinic based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. We provide our patients with a range of treatment options and advice, with the aim of improving oral health and boosting overall wellbeing!

We advise our patients to attend our Calgary-based dental clinic twice a year for a dental check-up. If any problems are detected, we have many treatments available. For instance, these include cavity fillings and root canals. To try and prevent problems, it is important to brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss regularly.

Here at Savanna Dental, we also have some cosmetic treatments available! These include dental implants, tooth whitening and Invisalign™! Our patients find that these treatments have a positive impact on their appearance, confidence and self-esteem.

In addition, the fees of our services at our Calgary dental clinic Savanna Dental are set in line with the Alberta Dental Fee Guide.

We would love you to visit our Savanna Dental dental clinic in Calgary! You can find out more about us by visiting our website https://savannadentalclinic.ca/!

References

[1] Xu, P., Gholamalizadeh, T., Moshfeghifar, F., Darkner, S., & Erleben, K. (2024). Deep-Learning-Based Segmentation of Individual Tooth and Bone With Periodontal Ligament Interface Details for Simulation Purposes. IEEE Access. 11. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2023.3317512.

[2] Sadick, B. (2022). Getting the Facts Straight on Braces for Adults. Available: https://www.aarp.org/health/healthy-living/info-2022/adult-braces.html. Last accessed: 14th March 2024.

[3] Jensen, M. S. (2024). Straightening teeth? AI can help. Available: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-03-straightening-teeth-ai.html. Last accessed: 14th March 2024.