Dear Hygiene Insider,
Popular TV shows such as "Breaking Bad" and sensational news reports cite the consequences of methamphetamine usage, but when it comes to having a patient in your chair, could you identify what "meth mouth" actually looks like? Researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles examined methamphetamine users in a new study to provide some data to the stories. Read more here.
In other Hygiene Community news, the more alcohol people drink, the worse their periodontal condition may be, according to a new study in the Journal of Periodontology. The findings show that men and women who consume at least four alcoholic drinks per week have worse periodontal status than those who drink less frequently. Read Assistant Editor Theresa Pablos' article here.
Washing your hands -- it's a ritual you do so often, you probably don't think much about it anymore. However, skimping on the basics could be costing your practice patients, according to a presentation at the recent Academy of General Dentistry meeting in San Francisco. Read more here.
We know that many men go the extra mile when it comes to taking care of their families and their careers, but statistics show that they are less likely to take care of their oral health needs. Read what Dr. George Koumaras, the national dental director for Anthem, has to say here.
There is a high level of periodontitis among U.S. adults age 30 and older, especially among the Hispanic population, according to a new study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Some 65 million adults (about 46% of the U.S. adult population) had periodontitis during the years 2009 to 2012. Read Features Editor Donna Domino's article here.
