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From Dr. Keith A. Hoover

STUDY PREDICTS NATIONAL FLUORIDE BAN WOULD SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASE CHILDREN’S TOOTH DECAY

October 6, 2025Health

Fluoride has been added to public water systems in the United States since 1945 to strengthen tooth enamel and fight off bacteria, ultimately reducing tooth decay. Mass General Brigham researchers developed a model to estimate dental health outcomes for children if the United States were to ban fluoridation of public water. The new study, published in JAMA Health Forum, found that banning fluoride would substantially increase dental decay and costs particularly for publicly insured and uninsured children.

“Fluoride replaces weaker ions within tooth enamel, making it stronger and less susceptible to tooth decay caused by bacteria,” said senior author Lisa Simon MD, DMD, Division of General Internal Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. “There’s strong evidence from other countries and cities, such as Calgary in Canada, showing that when fluoride is eliminated, dental disease increases. Our study offers a window into what would happen in the United States if water fluoridation ceased.”

The researchers found that eliminating fluoride increased the total number of decayed teeth by 25.4 million more teeth with tooth decay over five years (equivalent to a tooth for one out of every three American children). They also estimated a cost of $9.8 billion in additional dental care costs over five years, which rose to $19.4 billion after 10 years.

The researchers note that their model demonstrates meaningful, ongoing benefit from fluoride at safe levels currently recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Toxicity Program, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“We know fluoride works. We’re able to show just how much it works for most communities and how much people stand to lose if we get rid of it,” said Simon.

If you, your family, or friends need dental care, we would be honored to provide you with state-of-the-art dental care in our modern dental practice. Refer someone you love to someone you trust!

Presented as a service to the community by Doctors Hoover and Yanda,
39 Milford Drive, Hudson, Ohio 44236. 330-650-0360.
www.drshooverandyanda.com

POOR ORAL HEALTH LINKED WITH BODY PAIN AND MIGRAINES IN WOMEN

September 30, 2025Health

New research has revealed poor oral health is significantly associated with higher instances of migraines, abdominal and body pain in women. The findings highlight the importance of good oral health to potentially mitigate pain and improve overall wellbeing, prompting further exploration into the role of oral microbiota in chronic unexplained pain conditions. This includes fibromyalgia, a condition experienced by 67 percent of the study participants.
Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain and headaches as well as fatigue, sleep disturbances, and cognitive problems. Participants with the poorest oral health were more likely to suffer from higher pain scores: 60 percent were more likely to experience moderate to severe body pain, and 49 percent were more likely to experience migraine headaches. Lower oral health was a statistically significant predictor of frequent and chronic migraine.
Regular oral hygiene appointments and dental health checks, in addition to twice daily teeth brushing and flossing are the recommended regimen for good oral health.
If you, your family, or friends need dental care, we would be honored to provide you with state-of-the-art dental care in our modern dental practice. Refer someone you love to someone you trust!

Presented as a service to the community by Doctors Hoover and Yanda,
39 Milford Drive, Hudson, Ohio 44236. 330-650-0360.
www.drshooverandyanda.com

A FLOSS PRIMER

September 22, 2025Health

Q: What do I need to know about floss and flossing?

A: By and large, the different types of floss — waxed, unwaxed, flavored, plain—are simply a matter of preference. But here are some factors to keep in mind when buying floss. If your teeth are set very close, you’re better with waxed. It’s less likely to snag and fray in the narrow space. Whichever type you prefer, the method for use is the same:
Floss supplements your toothbrush, letting you get into places the bristles can’t reach. Wind the ends of a length of floss around your forefingers and pull it taut. Slip the floss between teeth and down to the gum line. Then pull the floss into a ‘C’ shape and get it between the tooth and gum. Then, pressing against the side of the tooth, pull the floss up and down. You’re after the plaque on the side of the tooth, where your brush is not very effective. Don’t saw the floss back and forth. As you go from tooth to tooth, keep unwinding the floss a bit so you are always using a clean section.
If you, your family, or friends need dental care, we would be honored to provide you with state-of-the-art dental care in our modern dental practice. Refer someone you love to someone you trust!

Presented as a service to the community by Doctors Hoover and Yanda,
39 Milford Drive, Hudson, Ohio 44236. 330-650-0360.
www.drshooverandyanda.com

BOTTLED WATER and fluoride

September 15, 2025Hygiene

Q: Does bottled water contain enough fluoride?

A: The popularity of bottled water has surged in recent years. In 2000, according to the Beverage Marketing Corporation, annual per capita consumption of bottled water in the United States was 18.3 gallons. By 2010, that figure had exceeded 25 gallons per person. The American Dental Association has determined, however, that most bottled waters do not contain optimal levels of fluoride. Optimal levels range from 0.7 to 1.2 parts per million.

The ADA has for decades supported fluoridation programs for water supplies. Fluoride at optimal levels helps prevent tooth decay. All ground and surface water in the United States contains some naturally occurring fluoride. And the ADA has supported efforts to add fluoride to drinking supplies when necessary to raise the parts-per-million number to at least 0.7. If you are a bottled water drinker, examine the label on your favorite product. If fluoride content is not published on the label, you can get that information by calling the manufacturer. And talk to your dentist about whether you are getting enough fluoride and how you may be able to supplement your diet if you’re not.

If you, your family, or friends need dental care, we would be honored to provide you with state-of-the-art dental care in our modern dental practice. Refer someone you love to someone you trust!

Presented as a service to the community by Doctors Hoover and Yanda,

39 Milford Drive, Hudson, Ohio 44236. 330-650-0360.

www.drshooverandyanda.com

DO STARCHY CARBS CAUSE CAVITIES?

September 8, 2025Health

It’s common knowledge that sugar causes cavities, but new Cornell University research provides evidence that — depending on your genetic makeup — starches could also be a contributing factor.
A new study explores the response of the oral microbiome to starch, finding that the number of copies of a particular gene, AMY1, in combination with starch, alters the complex composition of bacteria that play a role in oral health.
“Most people have been warned that if you eat a bunch of sugar, make sure you brush your teeth,” said Angela Poole, senior author and assistant professor of molecular nutrition. “The takeaway finding here is that depending on your AMY1 number, you may want to be just as vigilant about brushing your teeth after eating those digestible starches.”
“If someone has a high copy number, they break down starch efficiently, and bacteria that like those sugars are going to grow more in that person’s mouth,” Poole said. “So you can have species behave differently based on the different substrates. It’s pretty incredible — how we adapt and these microbes turn around and adapt, too.”
If you, your family, or friends need dental care, we would be honored to provide you with state-of-the-art dental care in our modern dental practice. Refer someone you love to someone you trust!

Presented as a service to the community by Doctors Hoover and Yanda,
39 Milford Drive, Hudson, Ohio 44236. 330-650-0360.
www.drshooverandyanda.com

Keep your breath fresh!

September 2, 2025Hygiene

The causes of bad breath are many. But they fall into three major areas: a mouth that’s unclean and full of bacteria; a medical condition, like a sinus infection; and bad habits like smoking or chewing tobacco.

In addition to brushing and flossing regularly, experts advise brushing the back of the tongue, where odor-producing bacteria can collect. Dry mouth, meaning a shortage of saliva, can also cause bad breath because saliva is the mouth’s natural cleansing agent, helping to wash away particles of food that can also contribute to bad breath.

Some highly pungent foods, like onion and garlic, will leave an odor on your breath until your body has eliminated them. Even certain diets, like a high-protein diet, can unfavorably impact your breath.

So, the first step in avoiding the problem is to keep your mouth clean through brushing and flossing, and to visit your dentist regularly for examinations and cleanings. Try to brush, or at least rinse your mouth out, after every meal. Talk with your dentist about the best practices you can follow to keep your breath fresh and your mouth healthy.

If you, your family, or friends need dental care, we would be honored to provide you with state-of-the-art dental care in our modern dental practice. Refer someone you love to someone you trust!

Presented as a service to the community by Doctors Hoover and Yanda,

39 Milford Drive, Hudson, Ohio 44236. 330-650-0360.

www.drshooverandyanda.com

Bad breath, bad news: how gum disease could worsen liver conditions: Part II

August 26, 2025Health

A new review has examined the mounting evidence linking periodontal disease — commonly known as gum disease — to chronic liver conditions, including cirrhosis, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), and alcohol-related liver disease. The immune system also plays a central role in this interaction. The clinical data, while still developing, support this association. Patients with cirrhosis consistently show worse oral health than the general population, with higher rates of gingival overgrowth, attachment loss, and bone loss. The prevalence of periodontitis among patients awaiting liver transplantation can be as high as 72 percent. Studies have also found links between severe periodontal disease and increased mortality in cirrhosis patients.

For those with MASLD, the most common form of chronic liver disease, the evidence is also compelling. Population-level studies have found that people with advanced periodontitis are significantly more likely to have MASLD, even after adjusting for shared risk factors like obesity and diabetes. And in one study, periodontal treatment led to a short-term improvement in liver enzyme levels — a tantalizing hint that oral health interventions could influence liver function. One message is clear: brushing, flossing, and regular dental visits might be more important than we ever realized.

If you, your family, or friends need dental care, we would be honored to provide you with state-of-the-art dental care in our modern dental practice. Refer someone you love to someone you trust!

Presented as a service to the community by Doctors Hoover and Yanda,

39 Milford Drive, Hudson, Ohio 44236. 330-650-0360.

www.drshooverandyanda.com

BAD BREATH, BAD NEWS: HOW GUM DISEASE COULD WORSEN LIVER CONDITIONS: PART I

August 18, 2025Gum Disease

There is growing recognition in medicine that what happens in one part of the body can affect others. A new review has examined the mounting evidence linking periodontal disease — commonly known as gum disease — to chronic liver conditions, including cirrhosis, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), and alcohol-related liver disease. Though the mouth and liver are separated by both distance and function, the paper makes a compelling case that these two systems are more connected than we thought.

Gum disease, especially in its more advanced form known as periodontitis, is a chronic inflammatory condition caused by bacterial infections in the tissues that support the teeth. It is one of the most common diseases worldwide, and its severity tends to increase with age, smoking, alcohol use, and poor access to dental care. For patients already struggling with liver disease — many of whom share these same risk factors — oral health often takes a back seat.

But ignoring the mouth could be a mistake. The review lays out multiple ways that periodontitis may aggravate liver disease. Pathogenic bacteria from the mouth can be swallowed or enter the bloodstream during everyday activities like chewing and brushing. Once in the gut, these microbes may alter the composition of the intestinal microbiome, leading to dysbiosis and increased gut permeability — also known as a “leaky gut.” This can allow bacterial products such as endotoxins to reach the liver, triggering inflammation and fibrogenesis.
If you, your family, or friends need dental care, we would be honored to provide you with state-of-the-art dental care in our modern dental practice. Refer someone you love to someone you trust!

Presented as a service to the community by Doctors Hoover and Yanda,
39 Milford Drive, Hudson, Ohio 44236. 330-650-0360.
www.drshooverandyanda.com

DENTAL PRECAUTIONS WHEN TRAVELING

August 11, 2025Hygiene

Q: We’re planning an overseas vacation. Any tips for dental hygiene?

A: The first piece of advice is to schedule a cleaning and a thorough dental exam at least a couple of weeks before leaving on your trip. Knowing your mouth is in good shape before you leave can ease any anxiety about having to deal with a problem while you’re abroad. If you have a major procedure coming up, have it finished before you go. Or schedule it for your return. You don’t want to have to deal with a dentist who doesn’t know you — and whom you don’t know — if you have an emergency in another country. Have your dentist’s office phone number with you if you need to contact them in an emergency.
Certainly, when you’re packing, don’t forget your dental equipment: toothbrush, floss, toothpaste, and whatever other items you may use regularly. Remember that in these days of the TSA and heightened security, you may not be able to bring toothpaste or mouthwash on a flight in your carry-on.
. If you, your family, or your friends need dental care, we would be honored to provide you with state-of-the-art dental care in our modern dental practice. Refer someone you love to someone you trust!

Presented as a service to the community by Doctors Hoover and Yanda,
39 Milford Drive, Hudson, Ohio 44236. 330-650-0360.
www.drshooverandyanda.com

CYSTS AND TUMORS

August 8, 2025Health

Q: What’s the difference between oral cysts and tumors?
A: A tumor is a growth; a cyst is a hollow sac or pouch that holds fluid, a semi-fluid or a solid substance. A tumor can be benign, meaning non-cancerous, or malignant, meaning cancerous. Cysts are generally benign, though on rare occasions they can become cancerous. A cyst can develop because of, among other things, a blocked duct, infection or trauma. Cysts are generally painless, though speaking or eating may irritate them.
With few exceptions, the causes of tumors are not known. One type of non-malignant tumor in the mouth is called oral tori. This growth of bone is fairly common and follows hereditary patterns. Also, it’s not uncommon for a woman in the first trimester of pregnancy to develop benign growths between the teeth that are known as “pregnancy tumors.” Reddish masses, they appear and grow quickly. They may last through the pregnancy and may or may not disappear shortly after birth.
Oral cancer strikes nearly 50,000 Americans every year. If you notice any sort of change in your mouth, see your dentist as soon as possible.
If you, your family, or friends need dental care, we would be honored to provide you with state-of-the-art dental care in our modern dental practice. Refer someone you love to someone you trust!

Presented as a service to the community by Doctors Hoover and Yanda,
39 Milford Drive, Hudson, Ohio 44236. 330-650-0360.
www.drshooverandyanda.com