The C.A.M. Report
Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Fair, Balanced, and to the Point

Archive for the 'Dental Health' Category

Might smoking marijuana cause dental cavities?

Thursday, March 4th, 2010

Researchers from the University of Zurich, in Switzerland studied the possiblity that regular cannabis use increases the risk of dental caries. (more…)

More tooth tunes? Music therapy during root canal

Sunday, November 16th, 2008

A while back, there was a toothbrush that played music to encourage kids to brush their teeth. That was fun.

Now, researchers from Tzu Chi University in Taiwan have studied the potential benefits of music therapy for a more serious activity — root canal treatment. (more…)

Lavender scent lowers dental anxiety

Sunday, September 14th, 2008

Researchers from King’s College in London report (page 163) “Lavender could … be used as effective ‘on-the-spot’ anxiety reduction in dentists’ waiting rooms.” (more…)

Music for pain and anxiety in children

Saturday, March 22nd, 2008

Researchers from the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada report, that “music is effective in reducing anxiety and pain in children undergoing medical and dental procedures.” (more…)

Summarizing benefits of acupuncture

Wednesday, February 20th, 2008

Dr. Paul White from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas has reviewed the medical literature and published a summary of the state of the art of acupuncture to manage pain. (more…)

Periodontal disease in kids who smoke pot

Wednesday, February 6th, 2008

Periodontal disease is a gum disease (such as periodontitis or gingivitis) that, if untreated, inflames and eventually destroys the bone and tissues that support and anchor the teeth.

Cannabis smoking is a risk factor for periodontal disease, according to this study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. (more…)

Should you take Ginkgo biloba with cilostazol or clopidogrel?

Tuesday, December 4th, 2007

The effects of cilostazol (Pletal) and clopidogrel (Plavix) on platelet activity do not change when either drug is taken with G. biloba.

However? (more…)

Homeopathic Arnica montana for post-tonsillectomy pain control

Tuesday, April 10th, 2007

The patients reported better pain control, but there was no difference in the use of other pain medicines. (more…)

More probiotics being developed to prevent tooth decay

Monday, September 18th, 2006

Two companies in Germany, BASF and Organo Balance, are collaborating to develop products based on probiotics that, if successful, could be marketed to improve dental hygiene.

Here are the details.

(more…)

Probiotics and dental health

Monday, August 14th, 2006

A growing list of products designed to improve dental health are being studied and marketed. Much of the interest is in Scandinavia. Less is shown in the U.S. at this time.

Here are the results of studies that have assessed the value of adding the probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus or Lactobacillus reuteri to the diet or personal dental hygiene regimens. The objective was to reduce dental caries or at least change some of the factors that increase the risk of tooth decay.

(more…)