(This comes straight from the ADA!-7/10/18 Morning Huddle)

The Daily Mail (UK) (7/4, Blanchard) reports researchers at the University of Granada in Spain have found that men with “either gum disease or erectile dysfunction” have increased likelihood of developing the other. According to “the first study to be done on European men,” scientists “say both conditions are linked to the same protein made in the liver.” The Daily Mail says “the study suggests gum disease is a bigger factor in erectile dysfunction than either diabetes or heart disease. Oral health experts say the study suggests the benefits of taking care of your mouth extend beyond avoiding losing teeth, and the mouth affects other parts of the body. They say brushing your teeth twice a day and visiting the dentist regularly could help men to avoid gum disease and erectile dysfunction as well.”

NPR reported the age old noise of knuckle cracking does not  cause arthritis, and may actually be good for the joint. According to Dr. Kevin deWeber of Vancouver, Canada,  the arthritis urban myth is a misconception perpetuated by “by mothers who are sick of hearing their kids crack their knuckles.” Dr. Greg Kawchuk, professor of Rehabilitative Medicine at the University of Alberta performed a MRI study discerning the culprit behind the noise:gas bubbles which get collapsed upon the knuckle cracking.

So what about other joints? Many dental patients complain of jaw joint noises. The implication of Dr. Kawchuck’s study is that the noise is harmless and moving the jaw around to create the pop may actually help. This still has to be verified by dental research. Pain, on the other hand, is a complicating factor which would need to be investigated by your doctor. Popping the joint may be harmful in those cases. Stick with the knuckles!

Mailonline ran an article  with the title, “Mouthwash use “linked to oral cancer”: People who use products more than three times a day increase risk.” The research, done by a Scottish doctor at the University of Glasgow has been deemed inconclusive by the British Dental Association. The article did however, indicate  that there “may be a link between excessive mouthwash rinsing and people who use it to mask the smell of smoking and alcohol.” These alone are independent risk factor for cancer, and together exert a well established link for cancer.  As such, mouthwash may not be as significant as the alcohol and smoking with regard to cancer, and should probably not be discontinued if recommended for use.