Dr. Enrico L. Cruz Dental Clinic

20/08/2026

A toothache doesn't always stay in the tooth. It can sometimes trigger a headache too.

The reason lies in the trigeminal nerve—the largest sensory nerve in the head and face. This nerve carries pain signals from the teeth, gums, jaw, and much of the head to the brain. Because these areas share the same nerve pathways, the brain can sometimes perceive tooth pain as pain in the temple, forehead, eye area, or side of the head.

Deep cavities, tooth infections, cracked teeth, and impacted wisdom teeth can all irritate the trigeminal nerve, causing pain to radiate beyond the mouth. This phenomenon is known as referred pain, where the source of the pain and the location where it is felt are not always the same.

A headache is not always a head problem. In some cases, the real source may be a tooth.

• Disclaimer: This post is for educational purposes only and not a substitute for professional dental advice.

20/08/2026

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20/08/2026

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16/08/2026

A new clinical study has found that a fasting-mimicking diet may help lower inflammation associated with periodontitis, a severe form of gum disease.

Researchers followed patients receiving professional periodontal treatment and compared those who periodically followed a fasting-mimicking diet with those who continued their normal eating habits. After six months, the FMD group showed lower levels of several inflammatory markers in the blood and around the gums.

Interestingly, both groups experienced similar improvements in their actual gum disease measurements. This means the diet appeared to influence inflammation, but it did not produce significantly greater clinical periodontal improvement than standard treatment alone.

The findings add to growing evidence that nutrition can affect oral and whole-body inflammation. However, dietary changes are not a substitute for professional dental care, scaling and root planing, effective plaque control, daily brushing and flossing, or regular dental visits.

🔬 Study: Mainas G, et al. Journal of Clinical Periodontology, 2026

14/08/2026

A growing body of research suggests that poor oral health may be linked to faster brain aging.

In a study published in Neurology, researchers found that gum disease and tooth loss were associated with accelerated shrinkage of the hippocampus—the memory center of the brain and one of the first regions affected in Alzheimer's disease.

The study followed 172 adults aged 55 and older for approximately four years. Participants underwent dental examinations, cognitive assessments, and brain MRI scans to track changes in the hippocampus.

Researchers found that the relationship between dental health and brain changes depended on the severity of gum disease. Among individuals with milder periodontitis, losing teeth was associated with greater hippocampal shrinkage. However, among those with severe periodontitis, retaining more teeth was linked to faster brain atrophy, possibly because chronically infected teeth can contribute to persistent inflammation.

While the study doesn’t prove a direct cause-and-effect relationship, it adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting oral health may influence brain aging.

🦷 Study:
Yamaguchi S et al. Associations of Dental Health With the Progression of Hippocampal Atrophy in Community-Dwelling Individuals. Neurology, 2023.

13/08/2026

Breathing Through the Mouth During Sleep May Increase Cavity Risk

During sleep, saliva production naturally decreases. If breathing occurs through the mouth instead of the nose, the mouth can become even drier, reducing saliva's ability to wash away food particles, neutralize harmful acids, and help repair early enamel damage.

A recent systematic review found that children and adolescents who breathe through their mouths tend to have more dental plaque and gum inflammation, with limited evidence suggesting an association with dental caries. Although more high-quality research is needed, reduced saliva and a persistently dry mouth may create conditions that allow cavity-causing bacteria to thrive.

Maintaining good oral hygiene, staying well hydrated, and addressing persistent mouth breathing may help reduce cavity risk and support long-term oral health.

Reference:
Kimura ACRS, et al. Dental Caries and Periodontal Outcomes in Mouth-Breathing Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review. International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry. 2026

12/08/2026

12/08/2026

A simple liquid treatment applied in seconds may help many young children avoid dental drilling.

A major U.S. randomized clinical trial found that 38% silver diamine fluoride (SDF) arrested tooth decay in more than half of treated baby teeth when applied every six months, providing strong clinical evidence for this minimally invasive approach to managing early childhood cavities.

Unlike conventional cavity treatment, SDF is brushed directly onto the decayed tooth and requires no drilling, injections, or sedation. The treatment combines the antibacterial properties of silver with the remineralizing effects of fluoride, helping arrest active decay by reducing cavity-causing bacteria and strengthening softened tooth structure.

Researchers found that more than half of the treated baby teeth had their cavities successfully arrested, reinforcing SDF as an effective evidence-based option for managing early childhood tooth decay. By helping preserve baby teeth until they naturally fall out, SDF may reduce the risk of pain, infection, and the need for more invasive dental procedures in many young children.

As minimally invasive dentistry continues to advance, studies like this are expanding treatment options that make dental care more comfortable, accessible, and effective for children.

📚 Reference
Fontana M, Moursi A, Gonzalez-Cabezas C, et al. Efficacy of Silver Diamine Fluoride on Young Children With Severe Early Childhood Caries: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Pediatrics. 2026.

08/08/2026

A mother's stress during pregnancy may influence when her baby's first teeth appear.

Recent findings suggest that elevated cortisol levels in expectant mothers are associated with earlier eruption of primary teeth. Infants born to mothers with the highest reported stress levels were found to have a greater number of erupted teeth by six months of age compared to those exposed to lower stress levels.

The researchers propose that prenatal stress may alter fetal developmental timing, potentially accelerating biological processes such as bone growth and tooth formation.

Importantly, earlier tooth eruption could represent a measurable biological marker of in-utero stress exposure and may help identify children who could be at increased risk for stress-related health outcomes later in life.

While the findings do not prove that stress directly causes earlier tooth eruption, they add to growing evidence that conditions during pregnancy can influence aspects of a child's development long after birth.

These observations were reported by investigators at the University of Rochester Medical Center, in collaboration with dental researchers affiliated with the American Dental Association.

📚 Study: Krieger et al. Maternal prenatal stress and infant tooth emergence timing. Presented at the American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (AADOCR) Annual Meeting, University of Rochester Medical Center.

06/08/2026

Most people think the morning brush is the most important. Research suggests the bedtime brush may matter even more.

During sleep, saliva production naturally decreases, reducing the mouth's ability to wash away plaque and bacteria. As a result, dental plaque can remain undisturbed for hours, creating an environment that may promote bacterial growth and inflammation.

In a study published in Scientific Reports, researchers examined whether the timing of toothbrushing was associated with cardiovascular outcomes. People who brushed their teeth before bed—whether or not they also brushed in the morning—had a significantly lower risk of cardiovascular events than those who skipped nighttime brushing. Interestingly, brushing only in the morning did not show the same association.

The researchers suggest that removing dental plaque before sleep may help reduce the overnight bacterial burden. Because this was an observational study, the findings show an association rather than proving cause and effect.

Brushing before bed takes only a few minutes, yet it remains one of the simplest evidence-based habits for protecting oral health—and it may also support overall health.

Reference:
Isomura ET, Suna S, Kurakami H, et al. Not brushing teeth at night may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Scientific Reports. 2023.