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Journal of Clinical Periodontology Jan 2023The aim of this study was to compare the environmental footprint of eight inter-dental cleaning aids.
AIM
The aim of this study was to compare the environmental footprint of eight inter-dental cleaning aids.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A comparative life cycle analysis was conducted based on an individual person using inter-dental cleaning aids every day for 5 years. The primary outcome was a life cycle impact assessment. This comprised of 16 discrete measures of environmental sustainability (known as impact categories), for example, greenhouse gas emissions (measured in kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent, or kg CO e), ozone layer depletion (measured in kilograms of chloroflurocarbon equivalent, or kg CFCe), and water use (measured in cubic metres). Secondary outcomes included normalized data, disability-adjusted life years, and contribution analysis.
RESULTS
Inter-dental cleaning using floss picks had the largest environmental footprint in 13 of 16 impact categories. Depending on the environmental impact category measured, the smallest environmental footprint came from daily inter-dental cleaning with either bamboo inter-dental brushes (five impact categories, including carbon footprint), replaceable head inter-dental brushes (four impact categories), regular floss (three impact categories), sponge floss (three impact categories), and bamboo floss (one impact category).
CONCLUSIONS
Daily cleaning with inter-dental cleaning aids has an environmental footprint that varies depending on the product used. Clinicians should consider environmental impact alongside clinical need and cost when recommending inter-dental cleaning aids to patients.
Topics: Humans; Dental Devices, Home Care; Dental Plaque; Environment
PubMed: 36122929
DOI: 10.1111/jcpe.13727 -
Evolutionary Anthropology Sep 2018Dental calculus is now widely used to recover information on items ingested in the past. It is particularly valuable in the earlier Paleolithic, where recovered data may... (Review)
Review
Dental calculus is now widely used to recover information on items ingested in the past. It is particularly valuable in the earlier Paleolithic, where recovered data may represent the only evidence for plant use. Several recovery methods are used and each one produces different results. Biomolecular markers and genetic material recovered from dental calculus is providing new data on identifiable dietary and medicinal items and human microbial communities. The recovery of microfossils, in particular, starch granules, has triggered a new awareness of the role of plants in the diet throughout the Paleolithic. However, the minute amount of material recovered has little relationship with food eaten during a person's life, while salivary amylase breaks down cooked starch. Therefore, broader dietary interpretations and detection of cooked food are problematic. The study of ancient dental calculus holds great potential to recover information about past lives, within realistic parameters.
Topics: Animals; Cooking; Dental Calculus; Diet; Environment; Fossils; History, Ancient; Hominidae; Neanderthals; Starch; Vegetables
PubMed: 30326183
DOI: 10.1002/evan.21718 -
Genes Feb 2021Recent advantages in paleomicrobiology have provided an opportunity to investigate the composition of ancient microbial ecologies. Here, using metagenome analysis, we...
Recent advantages in paleomicrobiology have provided an opportunity to investigate the composition of ancient microbial ecologies. Here, using metagenome analysis, we investigated the microbial profiles of historic dental calculus retrieved from archaeological human remains from postmedieval Latvia dated 16-17th century AD and examined the associations of oral taxa and microbial diversity with specific characteristics. We evaluated the preservation of human oral microbiome patterns in historic samples and compared the microbial composition of historic dental calculus, modern human dental plaque, modern human dental calculus samples and burial soil microbiota. Overall, the results showed that the majority of microbial DNA in historic dental calculus originated from the oral microbiome with little impact of the burial environment. Good preservation of ancient DNA in historical dental calculus samples has provided reliable insight into the composition of the oral microbiome of postmedieval Latvian individuals. The relative stability of the classifiable oral microbiome composition was observed. Significant differences between the microbiome profiles of dental calculus and dental plaque samples were identified, suggesting microbial adaptation to a specific human body environment.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Archaeology; Body Remains; Burial; Child; DNA, Ancient; DNA, Bacterial; Dental Calculus; Dental Plaque; Female; Humans; Latvia; Male; Metagenome; Microbiota; Middle Aged; Soil Microbiology; Young Adult
PubMed: 33671794
DOI: 10.3390/genes12020309 -
Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry Apr 2020Dental plaque is a structurally organized biofilm which consists of diverse microbial colonies and extracellular matrix. Its composition may change when pathogenic...
Dental plaque is a structurally organized biofilm which consists of diverse microbial colonies and extracellular matrix. Its composition may change when pathogenic microorganisms become dominating. Therefore, dental biofilm or plaque has been frequently investigated in the context of oral health and disease. Furthermore, its potential as an alternative matrix for analytical purposes has also been recognized in other disciplines like archeology, food sciences, and forensics. Thus, a careful in-depth characterization of dental plaque is worthwhile. Most of the conducted studies focused on the screening of microbial populations in dental plaque. Their lipid membranes, on the other hand, may significantly impact substance (metabolite) exchange within microbial colonies as well as xenobiotics uptake and incorporation into teeth. Under this umbrella, a comprehensive lipidomic profiling for determination of lipid compositions of in vivo dental plaque samples and of in vitro cultivated biofilm as surrogate matrix to be used for analytical purposes has been performed in this work. An untargeted lipidomics workflow utilizing a ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC)-quadrupole-time-of-flight (QTOF) platform together with comprehensive SWATH (sequential window acquisition of all theoretical fragment ion mass spectra) acquisition and compatible software (MS-DIAL) that comprises a vast lipid library has been adopted to establish an extensive lipidomic fingerprint of dental plaque. The main lipid components in dental plaque were identified as triacylglycerols, followed by cholesterol, cholesteryl esters as well as diacylglycerols, and various phospholipid classes. In vivo plaque is a rare matrix which is usually available in very low amounts. When higher quantities for specific research assays are required, efficient ways to produce an appropriate surrogate matrix are mandatory. A potential surrogate matrix substituting dental plaque was prepared by cultivation of in vitro biofilm from saliva and similarities and differences in the lipidomics profile to in vivo plaque were mapped by statistical evaluation post-analysis. It was discovered that most lipid classes were highly elevated in the in vitro biofilm samples, in particular diacylglycerols, phosphatidylglycerols, and phosphatidylethanolamines (PEs). Furthermore, an overall shift from even-chain lipid species to odd-chain lipids was observed in the cultivated biofilms. On the other hand, even-chain phosphatidylcholines (PCs), lysoPCs, cholesteryl esters, and cholesterol-sulfate were shown to be specifically increased in plaque samples. Graphical abstract.
Topics: Bacteria; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; Biofilms; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Dental Plaque; Humans; Lipidomics; Lipids; Saliva; Software; Tandem Mass Spectrometry; Triglycerides
PubMed: 31942654
DOI: 10.1007/s00216-019-02364-2 -
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection... 2014Dental plaque is an oral biofilm that much like the rest of our microbiome has a role in health and disease. Specifically, it is the cause of very common oral diseases... (Review)
Review
Dental plaque is an oral biofilm that much like the rest of our microbiome has a role in health and disease. Specifically, it is the cause of very common oral diseases such as caries, gingivitis, and periodontitis. The ideas about oral disease development have evolved over time. In the nineteenth century, scientists could not identify bacteria related to disease due to the lack of technology. This led to the "Non-Specific Plaque Hypothesis" or the idea that the accumulation of dental plaque was responsible for oral disease without discriminating between the levels of virulence of bacteria. In the twentieth century this idea evolved with the techniques to analyze the changes from health to disease. The first common hypothesis was the "Specific Plaque Hypothesis" (1976) proposing that only a few species of the total microflora are actively involved in disease. Secondly, the "Non-Specific Plaque Hypothesis" was updated (1986) and the idea that the overall activity of the total microflora could lead to disease, was enriched by taking into account difference in virulence among bacteria. Then, a hypothesis was considered that combines key concepts of the earlier two hypotheses: the "Ecological Plaque Hypothesis" (1994), which proposes that disease is the result of an imbalance in the microflora by ecological stress resulting in an enrichment of certain disease-related micro-organisms. Finally, the recent "Keystone-Pathogen Hypothesis" (2012) proposes that certain low-abundance microbial pathogens can cause inflammatory disease by interfering with the host immune system and remodeling the microbiota. In this comprehensive review, we describe how these different hypotheses, and the ideas around them, arose and test their current applicability to the understanding of the development of oral disease. Finally, we conclude that an all-encompassing ecological hypothesis explaining the shifts from health to disease is still lacking.
Topics: Dental Caries; Dental Plaque; Humans; Mouth Diseases; Periodontal Diseases
PubMed: 25077073
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2014.00092 -
Nederlands Tijdschrift Voor... Nov 2021Tartar is formed by the precipitation of calcium phosphate on dental plaque, particularly in an alkaline environment. Fruit is acidic and contains a lot of carbohydrates...
Tartar is formed by the precipitation of calcium phosphate on dental plaque, particularly in an alkaline environment. Fruit is acidic and contains a lot of carbohydrates besides, leading to acidification in dental plaque. In a large-scale population study, fruit consumption was therefore associated with a reduced risk of tartar build-up. Protein degradation does create an alkaline environment. However, consumption of dairy products, which are rich in protein and calcium ions, does not lead to increased formation of tartar. Oral care products containing the amino acid arginine or urea, both generating an alkaline environment, do not lead to increased tartar formation either. These studies suggest that the effect of diet on the metabolism in dental plaque is insufficient to cause an increase in tartar formation.
Topics: Dental Calculus; Humans
PubMed: 34747162
DOI: 10.5177/ntvt.2021.06.21038 -
Clinical and Experimental Dental... Aug 2022Aragonite from animal origin such as cuttlefish bone powder is an abrasive with hardness properties ideal for calculus removal. The purpose of this randomized controlled... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
OBJECTIVES
Aragonite from animal origin such as cuttlefish bone powder is an abrasive with hardness properties ideal for calculus removal. The purpose of this randomized controlled trial was to test the efficacy of a cuttlebone-derived aragonite toothpaste in removing dental calculus.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Eighty-one patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were blindly and randomly assigned into two study groups. The intervention treatment group (n = 40) received cuttlebone toothpaste (Dr. D-Tart) and the control group (n = 41) received an off-the-shelf commercial toothpaste (Crest). Evaluations were performed before and after scaling and polishing procedures done at 3 months in order to evaluate the toothpaste's ability to remove calculus and to prevent calculus formation. Calculus, stains, plaque, and gingival indices scores, and patient satisfaction surveys were compared at baseline (first visit), 3, and 9 months, using generalized linear models and Wald's χ test.
RESULTS
At the end of the 3-month period, the intervention group showed a 30% reduction in total calculus compared to the baseline score (p = .0006) and 45% less total calculus compared to the control group (p = .0001). Six months after scaling, the mean calculus score for Crest users was 42% higher than that for Dr. D-Tart users (p = .0692). There was a significant improvement in the gingival health of cuttlebone toothpaste users at the observed intervals, and both kinds of toothpaste achieved comparable results in terms of plaque and stains removal.
CONCLUSIONS
Aragonite toothpaste can remove calculus, prevent calculus formation, and improve gingival health. Patients are generally satisfied with the performance of the aragonite toothpaste.
CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE
Animal-derived aragonite toothpaste (Dr. D-Tart) shows promising efficacy in removing calculus, preventing calculus formation, and for the improvement of gingival health.
CLINICAL TRIAL ID
A08-M35-16B.
Topics: Calcium Carbonate; Dental Calculus; Dental Plaque; Gingivitis; Humans; Toothpastes
PubMed: 35419985
DOI: 10.1002/cre2.559 -
Archivio Italiano Di Urologia,... Sep 2018Pathological calcifications that occur in various parts of the body may cause stone formation over time. The structure of these stones is similar in many regions of the...
OBJECTIVE
Pathological calcifications that occur in various parts of the body may cause stone formation over time. The structure of these stones is similar in many regions of the body. We have studied the relationship between dental calculi and kidney stones.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
A total of 183 patients with dental stone complaints or dental calculi were included between April and August 2016 in the Cagri Dental Hospital, Elazig, Turkey. Patients were evaluated with regard to a urinary tract ultrasonography, urinalysis, oral hygiene, and stone and surgical disease history. All information was statistically investigated.
RESULTS
The age of the patients in the kidney stones group was significantly higher than the non-kidney stone patients (p < 0.05). In the group with kidney stones, the percentage of dental calculus formation was significantly higher than the group without stones (p < 0.05). In the groups with and without kidney stones, dental stone recurrence rates did not differ significantly (p < 0.05). Urinary pH was significantly lower in the group with stones than the group without stones (p < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
During a physical examination, the formation of a visible stone, such as a dental calculus, may be an indicator of other types of stones, such as kidney stones, and this should be further investigated.
Topics: Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Dental Calculus; Female; Humans; Kidney Calculi; Male; Middle Aged; Recurrence; Turkey; Young Adult
PubMed: 30362677
DOI: 10.4081/aiua.2018.3.159 -
Swiss Dental Journal May 2022Orthodontic appliances with brackets make oral hygiene more difficult, which leads to a significantly increased risk of caries and gingivitis if mechanical plaque...
Orthodontic appliances with brackets make oral hygiene more difficult, which leads to a significantly increased risk of caries and gingivitis if mechanical plaque control is inadequate over a longer period of time. While classic oral hygiene indices are aimed at smooth surfaces and approximal spaces, there are now modifications in the context of orthodontically treated teeth with brackets.
Topics: Dental Plaque; Humans; Plaque, Atherosclerotic
PubMed: 35546138
DOI: 10.61872/sdj-2022-05-03 -
Research in Veterinary Science Dec 2020The effects of orally administered ovine serum immunoglobulin on dental plaque and associated oral immunity in cats were investigated. The two treatment groups consisted...
The effects of orally administered ovine serum immunoglobulin on dental plaque and associated oral immunity in cats were investigated. The two treatment groups consisted of 1) cats that were fed unsupplemented kibble (control diet) and 2) cats that were fed the same kibble but coated with a freeze-dried ovine serum immunoglobulin preparation (ovine Ig) (test diet). The adult cats were randomly allocated to one of the two diets (n = 15) and received their respective kibble for a 28-day experimental period. When compared to the ovine Ig-supplemented kibble, cats consuming the unsupplemented kibble had significantly (p < 0.05) higher dental plaque scores. Cat IgA and IgG concentrations in the saliva and serum were significantly (p < 0.05) higher for cats fed the unsupplemented kibble when compared to cats receiving the ovine Ig supplement. Similarly, myeloperoxidase activity in the saliva was significantly (p < 0.05) higher for cats fed the unsupplemented kibble when compared to cats receiving the Ig-supplement. Orally administered ovine serum Ig positively influenced oral health and oral immunity in cats as evidenced by preventing an increase of dental plaque formation, salivary and serum IgA and IgG concentrations and salivary myeloperoxidase activity.
Topics: Administration, Oral; Animals; Cat Diseases; Cats; Dental Plaque; Diet; Dietary Supplements; Immunization, Passive; Immunoglobulins; Male; Sheep; Sheep, Domestic
PubMed: 33035932
DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2020.09.037