Dr. Felino Caro Columnas

24/12/2025

04/12/2025

Thumb-Sucking and pacifier use are natural soothing habits in infancy. However, when the habit continues for too long, it can place constant pressure on developing teeth and jaws. This may negatively affect the bite and change how the teeth and jaw grow, especially if the habit continues beyond age 3. In some cases, bone changes can begin as early as 18 months.

Common Dental Problems Caused by Prolonged Thumb-Sucking or Pacifier Use

🔹 Protruding front teeth
Constant sucking pressure can push the upper front teeth outward. This may make it difficult for children to close their lips comfortably, contribute to speech challenges, and increase the risk of trauma to the front teeth.

🔹 Open bite
If the upper and lower front teeth do not overlap properly, a gap remains when your child bites down. An open bite can interfere with normal swallowing patterns and speech development.

🔹 Crossbite
Excessive sucking can cause the upper teeth to sit inside the lower teeth. If not corrected early, a crossbite can shift the jaw to one side, leading to asymmetrical jaw growth and long-term dental issues.

How to Help Your Child Break the Habit

Most children naturally stop thumb-sucking or pacifier use between ages 2 and 4. If the habit continues, try these supportive strategies:

1. Bitter Taste Nail Solutions
These specially designed products taste unpleasant and discourage children from putting their fingers in their mouths.

2. Bandages or Finger Wraps
Gently wrap your child’s finger(s) at bedtime to reduce nighttime thumb-sucking.

3. Modify the Pacifier
For children aged 3–4 who still rely on a pacifier, cutting the tip removes its suction effect, making it less satisfying to use.

4. Consult a Dentist
If home strategies are unsuccessful, seek guidance from your dentist. Depending on your child’s needs, they may recommend gentle orthodontic appliances to help stop the habit and guide healthy jaw development.

04/12/2025

Gum disease is not just a dental problem — it is a chronic inflammatory disease that damages the gums and the bone supporting the teeth. When inflammation becomes long-standing, it does not stay in the mouth. It can affect the blood vessels throughout the body, including those responsible for erectile function.

Researchers from the European Federation of Periodontology report a significant association between poor gum health and ED. They explain that shared risk factors such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, obesity, and high cholesterol contribute to reduced blood flow and high inflammation. Oral bacteria entering the bloodstream may further impair vascular health.

Oral health is not a luxury - it is a vital part of general health, especially for men. Regular dental visits and proper daily oral hygiene can help to prevent or delay heart disease, diabetes complications, and even erectile dysfunction

Source:
European Federation of Periodontology

29/11/2025

A new study from Hiroshima University finds that the gum-disease bacterium Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) can slip into the bloodstream and infiltrate the heart. There, it quietly drives scar tissue buildup — known as fibrosis — distorting the heart’s architecture, disrupting electrical signals, and raising the risk of Atrial Fibrillation (AFib).

Researchers studied both animal models and human atrial tissue. Mice with P. gingivalis showed significantly higher incidence of inducible AFib compared with controls. In human heart tissue from AFib patients, presence of P. gingivalis correlated with more severe gum disease — suggesting a possible microbial link beyond inflammation alone.

For everyday oral-health practice, this reinforces that untreated periodontitis might not only threaten your gums and teeth — it may also pose broader cardiovascular risks. It’s a reminder that oral hygiene and periodontal care are key to whole-body health.

📄Research paper:
Shunsuke Miyauchi, Miki Kawada-Matsuo, Hisako Furusho, et al. Atrial Translocation of Porphyromonas gingivalis Exacerbates Atrial Fibrosis and Atrial Fibrillation. Circulation, 2025; DOI: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.124.071310

25/11/2025

A new umbrella study published in the journal Brain Sciences has brought renewed attention to the relationship between oral health and stroke. Researchers reviewed all available meta-analyses examining periodontitis, gingivitis, tooth loss, and their association with stroke risk.

The findings suggest that periodontal disease is significantly linked with an increased likelihood of stroke. This reinforces the emerging view that oral inflammation may influence neurological and vascular health far beyond the mouth.

Periodontitis drives chronic inflammation, enables oral bacteria to enter the bloodstream, and increases inflammatory mediators such as TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6. These systemic mechanisms are known contributors to atherosclerosis, vascular injury, and clot formation.

Stroke remains a leading cause of death and long-term disability worldwide. If gum inflammation plays a role, even modestly, strengthening oral hygiene and periodontal care becomes an essential public health strategy—not only for dental protection, but for cardiovascular and brain health.

📄 Source:
PMCID: PMC11763556 PMID: 39851378

23/11/2025

WHAT CAUSES TOOTH DECAY?

Many people neglect oral hygiene until damage becomes visible.

Tooth decay is the leading cause of tooth loss and persistent bad breath.

Here is a clear breakdown of why it happens, how to spot it early, and how to prevent it 👇🏼

22/11/2025

New evidence is strengthening the link between periodontitis and atrial fibrillation. Researchers report that chronic gum inflammation may increase the likelihood of developing atrial fibrillation and worsen outcomes in patients already diagnosed.

Persistent periodontal infection appears to drive systemic inflammation, immune activation, and atrial fibrosis. These biological changes may create the conditions for abnormal electrical activity within the heart.

The review highlights that periodontal treatment, including professional scaling and improved oral hygiene, significantly reduces inflammatory markers associated with atrial fibrillation risk.

Experts propose that oral health should be incorporated into integrated cardiac care, as managing gum disease may become a key strategy in preventing and controlling atrial fibrillation.

🔬Source: Stanisław Surma, Gregory Y H Lip, Periodontitis and atrial fibrillation, European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, 2025;, zwaf626.