RIG Dental CARE Specialist

19/09/2025

🦷A Visit to Your Dentist Could Save Your Life!

Most people think of a dentist as someone who only checks teeth and gums. But in reality, dentists often act as frontline health detectives. Many serious medical conditions leave early warning signs in the mouth, sometimes long before symptoms appear elsewhere in the body.

Bleeding gums, slow-healing sores, eroded enamel, or even loose teeth can point toward hidden problems like diabetes, acid reflux, osteoporosis, or immune issues. Dentists are also trained to spot red or white patches that could signal oral cancer, and they may notice signs of sleep apnea by examining the tongue, bite, and throat area. These early discoveries can be life-saving, because treatment started at the earliest stage is always more effective.

That’s why a dental check-up is never “just a cleaning.” It’s a chance to catch hidden health issues before they silently progress. By visiting your dentist regularly and sharing your full health history, you give yourself the best chance at protecting not only your smile — but your overall life and wellbeing.

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This post is for public awareness. It does not replace professional dental advice.

19/09/2025

Scientists develop a drug that could regrow lost human teeth naturally!

A team of researchers in Japan has reported a medical advance that could change dentistry forever — a drug designed to help humans grow back lost teeth naturally.

The project, led by Dr. Katsu Takahashi at the Medical Research Institute, focuses on a protein called USAG-1, which normally shuts down extra tooth development. By blocking this protein in lab animals, scientists successfully stimulated the growth of brand-new teeth.

Experts believe that humans, much like sharks and elephants, may still hold silent “third dentition” buds — structures capable of producing additional teeth if activated. This discovery could unlock that potential, offering new hope for people who lose teeth from decay, gum disease, or aging.

Clinical trials in humans are already underway, and researchers are optimistic that by the early 2030s, this therapy could stand alongside — or even replace — implants and dentures. It marks one of the boldest steps yet toward the era of tooth regeneration.

📖 Source: Ravi, V., Murashima-Suginami, A., Kiso, H., Tokita, Y., Huang, C.L., Bessho, K., Takagi, J., Sugai, M., Tabata, Y., Takahashi, K. (2023). Advances in tooth agenesis and tooth regeneration. Regenerative Therapy, Vol. 22, pp. 160–168.

19/09/2025

Imagine flossing your teeth and, at the same time, checking your stress levels.
Researchers at Tufts University have developed a groundbreaking dental floss that can measure cortisol—the body’s main stress hormone—directly from saliva.

This smart floss uses a micro-channel system that draws saliva into a tiny sensor embedded in the floss pick. Within minutes, it can detect cortisol levels with accuracy comparable to standard laboratory tests. Cortisol is a key indicator of stress, and abnormal levels are linked with conditions like anxiety, diabetes, heart disease, and even cancer risk.

What makes this innovation remarkable is its simplicity: it looks just like an ordinary floss pick, but hidden inside is advanced microfluidic technology and molecularly imprinted polymers that capture cortisol molecules. The results are available in about 10–12 minutes—no lab visit required.

While still in the research stage, this breakthrough points to a future where daily oral care tools may double as health monitors—turning something as routine as flossing into a window into whole-body health.

📖 Source:
Sharma A, Hossain NI, Thomas A, Sonkusale S. Saliva-Sensing Dental Floss: An Innovative Tool for Assessing Stress via On-Demand Salivary Cortisol Measurement with Molecularly Imprinted Polymer and Thread Microfluidics Integration. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2025 Apr 30;17(17):25083-25096 doi: 10.1021/acsami.5c02988. Epub 2025 Apr 17.

🔎PMID: 40244717.

18/09/2025

A knocked-out permanent tooth is a true dental emergency — and time is everything. The best chance of saving the tooth comes when it is replanted immediately, ideally within the first 15–20 minutes. After about an hour outside the mouth, the chances of survival drop dramatically.

If it happens, pick up the tooth by the crown (the white chewing part), never the root. If dirty, give it a quick rinse with clean water — but don’t scrub it. Try to place it back gently into the socket. If that’s not possible, keep it moist in milk, saline, or inside the cheek. Never let it dry out.

Do not attempt to replant a baby tooth. For adults, rush to a dentist right away. The tooth will be stabilized with a splint, antibiotics may be given, and root canal treatment will often be needed later.

Quick action makes the difference between saving and losing the tooth.

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This post is for public awareness. It does not replace professional dental advice. If you notice any symptoms—please consult your dentist promptly.

18/09/2025

Something all parents should know!👇👇

14/09/2025

Safe ka na… ay hindi pala. 🤡

Hidden tooth decay works in silence — hindi kita, pero sure na may damage.

Para makasigurong safe ka na from cavities, magpa-dentist pa rin! 🦷

14/09/2025

13/09/2025

Many people assume baby teeth don’t matter because “they’ll fall out anyway,” but this is one of the biggest misconceptions in dentistry. Primary teeth act as natural placeholders, guiding the proper alignment and eruption of the permanent teeth growing underneath. If these teeth are neglected—whether due to untreated cavities, trauma, or early loss—the permanent teeth can erupt in the wrong position, leading to crowding, misalignment, or even impacted teeth.

The roots of baby teeth sit very close to the developing buds of adult teeth. When infection spreads through an untreated cavity, it can travel beyond the roots and directly affect the permanent teeth beneath. This may cause discoloration, enamel defects, or malformation in the incoming tooth. In severe cases, the infection can even damage the surrounding bone, making future eruptions more complicated.

Caring for baby teeth is therefore not only about preventing pain or infection in childhood, but also about protecting the future smile. Regular dental check-ups, timely treatment of cavities, and proper home care create a healthy environment for permanent teeth to grow strong and correctly positioned. What happens in the early years leaves a lasting imprint—healthy baby teeth are the foundation for a lifetime of oral health.

12/09/2025

Scientists are starting to suspect that Alzheimer’s disease may not only be an issue of aging brains — it could actually have its roots in the mouth. Growing evidence suggests that chronic gum disease might set off a chain reaction leading to Alzheimer’s.

In a landmark 2019 study, researchers at the University of Louisville identified Porphyromonas gingivalis — the main bacteria behind persistent gum infections — inside the brains of people who had died with Alzheimer’s. Even more striking, the same bacterial toxins were detected in the brains of individuals with no dementia symptoms, hinting that damage could begin many years before memory loss appears.

Animal studies reinforced these concerns: when mice were exposed to this gum bacterium, it didn’t stay confined to the mouth. Instead, it migrated to the brain, elevated amyloid-beta proteins tied to Alzheimer’s, and triggered inflammation. In the same research, a new drug, COR388, was tested — it successfully reduced the bacterial load in the brain and lowered amyloid buildup in mice, raising hopes that such therapies might one day slow or even prevent the disease.

While scientists caution that it’s still too early to confirm gum disease as a direct cause of Alzheimer’s, these discoveries are significant. They turn the old assumption upside down — rather than dementia leading to poor oral hygiene, it may be oral bacteria quietly infiltrating the brain and sparking damage long before memory decline begins.

📄 Research Reference
PMID: 30746447
PMCID: PMC6357742

12/09/2025

Sign na to para ayusin ang mga desisyon nyo sa buhay. Good morning! 😍

09/09/2025

09/09/2025

ORAL BACTERIA CAN TRAVEL TO THE HEART 🫀

Scientists have discovered something shocking — bacteria commonly found in dental plaque have been detected inside the arteries and even heart tissue of patients who suffered heart attacks.

How does this happen?
When gums are inflamed or diseased, bacteria can slip into the bloodstream through tiny breaks in gum tissue. Once in circulation, they may contribute to inflammation in blood vessels, accelerating cardiovascular damage.

This doesn’t mean oral bacteria directly cause heart disease, but their presence shows how strongly the mouth and heart are connected. Ignoring gum health could silently fuel risks far beyond the mouth.

Current research suggests that keeping gums healthy through regular brushing, flossing, and professional cleanings isn’t just about saving teeth — it could also help protect the heart.

🧠Sources:

Lockhart PB, et al. (2012). Periodontal Disease and Atherosclerotic Vascular Disease: Does the Evidence Support an Independent Association? Circulation.

Tonetti MS & Van D**e TE (2013). Periodontitis and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease: Consensus Report. J Clin Periodontol.