In a recent study published in Diabetes Care, it now appears that gum disease may be a predictor for the onset of diabetes.

The study is the most recent in a string of reports linking gum health to over all health. Last year, researchers at Harvard associated periodontal disease with pancreatic cancer.

I am wondering if an electric or battery operated toothbrush is better than a regular one. I have used both and don't seem to notice much difference except I tend to brush longer when using the battery operated one, which is probably a good thing.

Does anyone have a preference or an opinion?

By Carolyn Colwell
HealthDay Reporter

TUESDAY, July 8 (HealthDay News) -- A new sweet treat that actually prevents children's cavities should please children and their parents, researchers say.

The tasty syrup, which contains the sugar substitute xylitol, prevented early decay in infants' teeth and may play a role in protecting permanent teeth, says a team from the United States and the Marshall Islands, in the South Pacific.

Xylitol has long been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and is already found in food products such as chewing gum.

Does anyone have any recommendations for extreme tooth sensitivity? My dentist mentioned that I have pretty good dental health, and recommended tooth pastes for sensitive teeth. Tried two now, but no luck. Any advice?

By Shannon Koehle
EmpowHer.com Health Reporter

Miquel de Cervantes, author of Don Quixote, once wrote, “Every tooth in a man’s head is more valuable than a diamond.”

Assuming Cervantes was correct; mothers must protect their diamonds if they plan to keep them, according to a study composed by a New York University professor.

Dr. Stephanie Russell, an assistant professor of epidemiology and health promotion, examined more than 2,000 women between ages 18 and 64 who gave birth at least once and found a correlation between pregnancy and tooth loss.

SATURDAY, June 7 (HealthDay News) -- People with type 2 diabetes can help control the disease by taking better care of their teeth and gums.

That's the case dentists were expected to make at the American Diabetes Association's annual meeting in San Francisco this weekend.

TUESDAY, June 3 (HealthDay News) -- There's some truth to the old wives' tale that "for every child, the mother loses a tooth," according to a New York University professor who found that women with more children are more likely to have missing teeth.

Dr. Stefanie Russell, an assistant professor of epidemiology and health promotion, examined data on 2,635 women, ages 18 to 64, who reported at least one pregnancy in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

The findings were published online in the American Journal of Public Health.

I'd like to have my teeth professionally whitened in the next year. I'm wondering if anyone has had good results and what the cost was?

I have heard that the Zoom technique works but is really painful. I have heard the Brite Smile system also works but is less painful.

I'd love to hear any stories before making a decision!

Thanks!

By Steven Reinberg
EmpowHer's HealthDay Reporter

TUESDAY, May 27 (HealthDay News) -- There may be another good reason to floss each day: A new study finds that gum disease could raise the risk for cancer.

"Men with history of periodontal disease had a 14 percent higher risk of cancer than those who did not have periodontal disease, and the increase persisted among never smokers," said lead researcher Dominique Michaud, a cancer epidemiologist at Imperial College London, in the U.K.

Secrets of Self-Healing author: Maoshing Ni asin: 1583332960 binding: Hardcover list price: $24.95 USD amazon price: $16.47 USD

East meets West in this extraordinary guide to natural healing by a prominent doctor of Chinese medicine and the author of Secrets of Longevity.

Dr. Mao's philosophy is simple: We all have a built-in healing ability, so why not try to activate it with natural means before we resort to drugs and invasive procedures? For the common cold, why not exploit the power of garlic, ginger, and the herb astragalus instead of taking cold medicine that simply replaces symptoms with side effects?