Rickets reported in Cardiff

BBC Wales reports that cases of the crippling children's bone disease rickets are being seen in Cardiff. "Caused by a lack of vitamin D, the disease can lead to deformities like bowed legs and stunted growth, but it largely disappeared last century. Eye on Wales has learnt health professionals working in communities in south Cardiff are reporting incidents."

Vitamin D deficiency can result in a host of serious health conditions, including susceptibility to colds and flu, overweight and dental problems. See Vitamin D Deficiency. Sunshine is a good source of vitamin D. Food sources include oily fish such as salmon and sardines, eggs, full fat natural yoghurt, whole milk and beef liver. Low fat diets are not healthy, but they are particularly bad for children. Your doctor can arrange for vitamin D level testing.

Omega-3 may boost oral health

The dental health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids may include anti-bacterial effects, extending the benefits beyond inflammation, says a new study from the University of Kentucky. Omega-3 fatty acids of marine and plant origin were found to have strong anti-bacterial activity against a range of oral pathogens, according to findings published in Molecular Oral Microbiology.
Read article at nutraingredients-usa.com

Fillings could be consigned to the dustbin of dental history after scientists identified the gene that produces tooth enamel.

Gene found that makes tooth enamel could revolutionise dental care
article in the Telegraph

Extracts:

"Researchers believe the discovery of the gene could lead to the repair of damaged enamel and the restoration or even the production of replacement teeth.

The gene, called Ctip2, is already known to have several functions in developing the immune and nervous systems and the growing of skin. Scientists can now add tooth development to that list."

""Enamel is one of the hardest coatings found in nature, it evolved to give carnivores the tough and long-lasting teeth they needed for survival," said Professor Chrissa Kioussi, author of the study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

"A lot of work would still be needed to bring this to human applications, but it should work. It could be a whole new approach to dental health.""

Sounds great! - Let's hope something comes of it!

A fresh debate will begin this month about putting fluoride in drinking water if a health authority goes ahead with adding it to the supplies.

New row over adding of fluoride to drinking water
article in the Telegraph

Extract:

"Most residents of Southampton will have no choice but to receive fluoridated tap water if the South Central Strategic Health Authority agrees to the proposal. Its board is to make a decision on Thursday February 26 following a consultation.

While many health experts argue that adding fluoride will help improve children's teeth, critics believe it is a coercive form of "mass medication" with unproven benefits.

If fluoride is added it will increase the concentration of the chemical in Southampton's water twelvefold, from 0.08 parts per million (ppm) to one ppm."

Personally, I'm against adding fluoride to the drinking water supply.

Fluoride could be added to almost half of all tap water under Government plans.

Fluoride could be added to 40pc of water
Article in the Telegraph

Extract:

"Officials want 40 per cent of England's water supply to be fluoridated to reduce high levels of tooth decay.

Dentists leaders believe that adding the chemical to the water supply could radically improve the condition of people's teeth, particularly in deprived areas.

Alan Johnson, the Health Secretary, also backed the introduction of more fluoride into the water supply earlier this year.

Currently only around 10 per cent of all tap water has fluoride added, mainly in parts of the West Midlands and the North East."

I am very much against the addition of fluoride to tap water. Most toothpastes contain fluoride and using a fluoride toothpaste is a better way to get fluoride onto people's teeth than adding fluoride to the water supply.