Tag: oral microbiome
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Mouthwash and Heart Health: Can a Tiny Swish Affect Blood Pressure?
The Mouth–Heart Connection We often think of mouthwash as a quick fix for bad breath or a step toward cavity prevention. Yet emerging research suggests the mouth plays a surprising role in cardiovascular health. Our mouths host billions of bacteria that participate in complex chemical processes, including the conversion of dietary nitrates into nitric oxide…
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Mouthwash and Heart Health: How a Tiny Swish Can Affect Blood Pressure
Why Mouthwash and Blood Pressure Might Be Connected Most of us reach for mouthwash to freshen breath or reduce plaque, not to steer heart health. Yet recent research suggests a surprising link: the mouth’s biochemical activity can influence the body’s nitric oxide system, a key player in regulating blood vessel tone and blood pressure. The…
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Mouthwash and Heart Health: How Even a Tiny Swish Can Elevate Blood Pressure
The Mouth-Heart Connection We often think of mouthwash as a quick fix for fresh breath or plaque control. Yet recent research suggests a deeper link between oral care and heart health. The mouth hosts a diverse microbiome that does more than protect teeth. Some bacteria in this ecosystem convert dietary nitrates from vegetables like spinach…
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Bridging the Knowledge-to-Practice Gap: Oral Microbiome Counseling in Saudi Arabian Dentistry
Understanding the Knowledge-to-Practice Gap in Oral Microbiome Counseling The oral microbiome—comprising bacteria, fungi, viruses, and archaea—significantly affects both oral and systemic health. A new mixed-methods study of 286 dental practitioners across Saudi Arabia reveals a persistent gap between knowledge and clinical practice when it comes to counseling patients about the microbiome. Despite moderate-to-high objective knowledge…
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Bridging the Knowledge-to-Practice Gap: Oral Microbiome Counseling Among Saudi Dentists
Understanding the Knowledge-to-Practice Gap in Oral Microbiome Counseling The oral microbiome—home to hundreds of bacterial species, fungi, viruses, and archaea—plays a pivotal role not only in dental health but also in systemic diseases. In Saudi Arabia, where non-communicable diseases are prevalent, translating microbiome science into everyday dental care is urgent. A mixed-methods study assessing knowledge,…
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Bridging the Knowledge-to-Practice Gap in Oral Microbiome Counseling: A Saudi Arabian Mixed-Methods Study
Overview The oral microbiome, a complex ecosystem of bacteria, fungi, viruses, and archaea, influences both oral and systemic health. In Saudi Arabia, where diabetes and cardiovascular disease are prevalent, translating microbiome science into dental practice is critical. A recent convergent mixed-methods study (n=286) evaluated knowledge, confidence, and counseling practices among dental practitioners, aiming to identify…