Drug-filled, 3D printed dentures may fight fungal infections

Scientists have 3D printed novel dentures that periodically release medication to prevent fungal infection which causes inflammation, redness and swelling in the mouth of the users.

Unlike current treatment options, such as antiseptic mouthwashes, baking soda and microwave disinfection, the new development can also help prevent infection while the dentures are in use. "The major impact of this innovative 3D printing system is its potential impact on saving cost and time," said an assistant professor. To better treat these infections, called denture-related stomatitis, researchers have turned to 3D printers, using the machines to build dentures filled with microscopic capsules that periodically release Amphotericin B, an antifungal medication.

The technology allows clinicians to rapidly create customised dentures chair-side, a vast improvement over conventional manufacturing that can vary from a few days to weeks, said the Asst. Prof. The research could be applied to various other clinical therapies, including splints, stents, casts and prosthesis. "The antifungal application could prove invaluable among those highly susceptible to infection, such as the elderly, hospitalized or disabled patients," he said.

The dental biomaterials market - is expected to grow 14 percent by 2020. A large part of the industry is focused on dental polymers, particularly the fabrication of dentures. Researchers printed their dentures with acrylamide, the current go-to material for denture fabrication. The study sought to determine if these dentures maintained the strength of conventional dentures and if the material could effectively release antifungal medication.

To test the strength of the teeth, researchers used a flexural strength testing machine to bend the dentures and discover their breaking points. A conventional lab-fabricated denture was used as a control. Although the flexural strength of the 3D printed dentures was 35 per cent less than that of the conventional pair, the printed teeth never fractured. To examine the release of medication in the printed dentures, the team filled the antifungal agent into biodegradable, permeable microspheres. 

The microspheres protect the drug during the heat printing process, and allow the release of medication as they gradually degrade.

The investigation involved the development of an innovative form of acrylamide designed to carry antifungal payloads, and a novel syringe pump system to combine the dental polymer and microspheres during the printing process.

The dentures were tested with one, five and 10 layers of material to learn if additional layers would allow the dentures to hold more medication. The researchers found the sets with five and 10 layers were impermeable and were not effective at dispensing the medication. Release was not hindered in the more porous single layer, and fungal growth was successfully reduced. Future research aims to reinforce the mechanical strength of 3D printed dentures with glass fibres and carbon nanotubes, and focus on denture relining - the readjustment of dentures to maintain proper fit. 

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Oral cancer- cause, symptoms and treatment

Over a third of all cancers are related to the use of tobacco. Tobacco-related cancers constitute a major proportion of the so-called ‘preventable cancers’—cancers related to dietary habits and lifestyle. Both epidemiological and experimental studies have clearly shown that chronic exposure to tobacco in any form induces changes in the cells that lead to the development of cancer. Smokers have a higher risk of lung and throat cancer, while those who chew tobacco run an increased risk of cancer of the mouth, throat and food passages. The brunt of the effect of tobacco is borne by the lungs in smokers and by the oral cavity in tobacco chewers.

The extent of the carcinogenesis of tobacco can be gauged by the fact that even the metabolites of tobacco which are filtered by the kidneys and accumulate in the urinary bladder result in an increased incidence of kidney and bladder cancers in smokers. It is the rampant habit of tobacco-chewing which is responsible for the extremely high incidence of head and neck cancers in India (over a third of all cancers). This chapter deals with how addiction to tobacco has changed the lives of some and also impacted on the health of a nation.

Playing with fire became a dangerous habit
A businessman dealing with the manufacture and sales of ‘fire bricks’ used for lining furnaces in industries in order to provide insulation against the tremendous heat generated. Fire bricks were his passion. As business improved, work pressures increased and to ease his mind, he started playing with another kind of fire—pan masala, a chewable mixture of areca nut and lime paste with aromatic spices. Though technically the mixture he used did not contain tobacco, the effects of its long-term use could be as devastating and debilitating as tobacco-chewing.

 In India, tobacco-chewing is not just a habit. It is no surprise, therefore, that the country has one of the highest incidences of oral cancer in the world and has the dubious distinction of being referred to as ‘the oral cancer capital’ of the world. Tobacco is generally consumed as a constituent of the betel nut, locally known as pan. Pan has traditionally been in use since generations by both men and women, young and old. It is even customary to serve pan during marriage functions and festivals. In recent times, tobacco has become commercially available in convenient, ready-to-use, attractive packs in forms such as gutka (a powdered mixture of tobacco and areca nut), khaini, mishri, snuff (which is inhaled through the nose) and pan masala (a mixture of areca nut and lime paste which may or may not contain additional tobacco).

Areca nut by itself has been shown by many scientific studies to be the cause of oral sub-mucous fibrosis, a condition characterized by stiffening of the inner mucosal lining of the cheek and other parts of the oral cavity due to the deposition of fibrous tissue. This restricts the extent to which the mouth can open and in severe cases, can result in a total inability to open the mouth. Though not cancer per se, this is an extremely debilitating condition by itself and very difficult to treat. Oral submucous fibrosis is also pre-cancerous and a significant proportion of people with this condition ultimately succumb to oral cancer. This condition is increasingly being seen among students and young adults who, attracted by the stylish packaging and marketing of pan masala products, start using them at an early age and get addicted. The absence of tobacco engenders the erroneous belief that these products are safe to consume, with disastrous consequences. It is estimated that there are over 20 million adolescents in the age group of 15–20 years who are addicted to some form of tobacco or pan masala in India.

The Indian government has only recently woken up to the reality of the health hazards of these chewable tobacco products. While restrictions on smoking in public places and a ban on the advertisement of all tobacco products have been in existence since 2003, they have done precious little to curb the evil of tobacco-chewing. Subsequent to 2003, a modest reduction in the sale of cigarettes and other smoking products was negated by a significant increase in the sale and consumption of chewed tobacco.

A pictorial warning depicting oral cancer on all tobacco products (including chewed) was to replace the existing warnings from June 2010 on-wards, However pressure from the strong tobacco lobby has put this on hold as of now. The present warnings enforced from 31 May 2009 show an X-ray picture of a cancer stricken lung which is considered too soft to have any real impact Pictorial warnings have significantly reduced the consumption of tobacco products in countries such as Brazil and Mauritius and thus brought down the incidence of oral and lung cancers there.

Many countries of the European Union, Canada, Singapore and others have also adopted pictorial warnings with encouraging results. Hopefully, the Indian government will be able to resist pressures from vested interests to enact this legislation and curb the menace of tobacco-chewing, which has reached epidemic proportions in our country. Whether this rule, once enforced, will also apply to those pan masala products which do not contain tobacco is unclear. These products are equally dangerous and are consumed by a segment of the population that is largely clueless about their catastrophic effects. Maybe only public interest litigation on the lines of what happened in the United States during the eighties in connection with smoking can ultimately result in any significant impact on the evil of tobacco-chewing in our country.

Have you noticed a sore in your mouth that won’t go away? Is there a lump, or pain or numbness anywhere in your mouth or on your lips? If yes, do not neglect these. They could be signs of early oral cancer.

Most oral cancers begin in the tongue or in the floor of the mouth and are squamous cell carcinomas. They begin on the surface layer of the mouth and lips and if left untreated can spread to other parts of your body.  Oral cancer includes cancers of the lips, cheeks, tongue, floor of the mouth, hard and soft palate, sinuses and throat (pharynx). It may originate in any of the tissues of the mouth or may be a result of metastasis from a different part of the body. If not diagnosed and treated early, they can be life threatening.

There are many risk factors for developing oral cancer. If you are a man, you are twice as likely to get oral cancer as a woman and the risk increases with age. You are more likely to develop a head and neck cancer if you have a history of cancer. Precancerous (premalignant) lesions are those lesions, which precede the development of full-blown cancer. These lesions are changes in skin or lining of the mouth that are not cancer but could trigger it. Common pre-cancerous conditions that occur in the mouth are Leukoplakia, Erythroplakia and Oral Submucous fibrosis.

Most cases of oral cancer are linked to one or the other form of tobacco use (cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, chewing tobacco, dipping snuff, cigars, bidis, etc.). The longer the duration you use these, the higher the risk. Tobacco contains around 4,000 chemical constituents among which more than two dozen are known carcinogens (cancer causing chemicals). It is the single biggest culprit in the development of almost all pre-cancerous lesions. In India, the incidence of head and neck cancers is extremely high due to rampant tobacco-chewing habit in the form of gutka, quid, misri, snuff, etc. 

Heavy alcohol use is another big culprit. Alcohol is known to irritate the lining inside the mouth or gums to a certain extent. And the risk increases if you use both alcohol and tobacco.

Sunlight helps the skin produce vitamin D and facilitates calcium absorption by the body. But did you know that sun exposure over long periods of time may increase the risk of lip cancer?

Some studies also suggest that not eating enough fruits and vegetables may increase the chance of getting oral cancer.


Chronic irritation from rough teeth, dentures, fillings, etc. has been considered to a risk factor for Leukoplakia (a premalignant lesion).

Human Papilloma Viruses (HPV 16 and HPV 18) which cause cervical cancer are also being linked to cancer of the oropharynx (throat, base of tongue, tonsils and soft palate). These viruses are passed from person to person through sexual contact. Cancer at the base of the tongue, at the back of the throat, in the tonsils or in the soft palate may be linked with HPV infection.

Oral cancer may present itself with many symptoms, some of the common ones are listed below. However, you should know that having any of these symptoms does not always mean cancer. A good doctor or dentist will be able to help diagnose it right.
• Red (Erythroplakia) and white (Leukoplakia) patches on your lips or in your mouth
• Non-healing sore on your lip or in your mouth
• Swellings or lumps on the lips, gums, cheek, back of the throat etc.
• Bleeding in the mouth
• Numbness, loss of pain in any area of the mouth, neck or face
• Difficulty in moving the jaw or tongue
• Difficulty in chewing, swallowing or speaking
• Loosening of teeth
• A change in the fit of denture
• Ear pain
• Swollen lymph nodes in the neck
• Unexplained weight loss
Early detection followed by appropriate treatment is very important for increasing survival rate and improving the quality of life. Hence a once a year screening for oral cancer is important. Most of the oral cancers can be diagnosed from lesions in the mouth. Your dentist will check for white or red patches, ulcerations, lumps and other signs in the mouth. If there is any area that is suspicious, he/she may use toluidine blue for vital staining which aids early recognition and hastens biopsy. However, Biopsy is the only definitive method of diagnosing oral cancer. Dental x-rays may show abnormalities in the bone. Other tests may include CT scan, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Positron Emission Tomography (PET).

Read more about causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of oral cancer.

Like all other cancers, treating oral cancers requires a multidisciplinary approach comprising of dental practitioners, surgeons, oncologists, nutritionists and rehabilitation specialists. If your tumour is small it is usually excised with surgery. The affected tissue is removed with minimal damage to other structures of the mouth. In advanced and extensive cancer a part of your mouth lining may be removed. If the cancer involves your tongue or jaw bone, they may need to be partially or completely removed. This may cause disfigurement of your face, head and neck which can be corrected with reconstructive surgery using bone grafts and surgical flaps. Depending on the stage of your cancer, radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy may be used along with surgery. You may find it difficult to chew, swallow and speak after your treatment. In such instances, rehabilitation may be necessary for you to return to normal activities as soon as possible. Dental or facial prostheses may be fabricated for cosmetic and functional reasons. They help in restoring speech and swallowing to normal. Prostheses also support the lip and cheek.

After the treatment it is very important to follow-up with your doctor who will monitor your recovery and check if there is any recurrence of cancer.

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                                                                                                                                                                                      PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/   
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DON'T TRY THESE HOME REMEDIES

Infected Umbilical cord-Some home remedies are downright bizarre and risky. One particularly strange treatment for a baby with an infected umbilical cord involves applying cow manure to the area. This is terrible advice for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that cow dung is jam-packed with all kind of bacteria which could result in a serious infection that would require treatment from a real doctor. 

 Ear candling

Some people do have a buildup of wax that causes itching and impaired hearing - and that's where ear candling comes in. It's marketed as an easy at-home solution for people with this problem and involves taking a candle-shaped beeswax cone, placing it in the ear, lighting it, and after the wick burns down, removing the cone along with ear wax and other impurities. Unfortunately, lighting a flame inches from your ear isn't exactly easy, and in fact, it can be dangerous. 

Broken dentures

It’s quite understandable for someone to want to attempt a repair on broken dentures, since a visit to the dentist can often be expensive and difficult. Some people attempt to repair broken dentures with adhesives, which is not made from ingredients that are safe for human consumption. Any type of glue applied to dentures will necessarily wind up being ingested, and could cause serious health problems. 

Applying alcohol on teething baby’s gums

People use alcohol for all sorts of reasons and some people use alcohol to relieve the pain for babies when they are teething. However, alcohol may upset your baby due to the burning sensation it produces. Furthermore some types of alcohol are not fit for consumption.

Butter for a Burn

While you might be of the opinion that butter makes everything better, it's important to remember that this rule applies to food, not burns. Butter might offer modest value for a burn by having a slight cooling effect, but it tends to melt due to body heat and there is a risk of infection because it's not sterilized.

 Piercing Eye Stye with Needle

Piercing the stye which occurs near the eye with a needle is a common home remedy. But by doing this you are putting your eyes in danger. While piercing the stye, the needle may get inside your eye leaving you injured grievously. 

 Head Lice

Some people use petrol, kerosene or pesticides straight for head lice. These home remedies are not only ineffective but very dangerous as well as they can cause toxicity. All these chemicals can enter your blood circulation through the scalp. These chemicals are highly toxic and cause organ damage.

 Treating acne with toothpaste

The common logic here is that the baking soda in toothpaste dries out your pimple and therefore makes it die down. But while the baking soda itself is probably fine, the added chemicals in toothpaste could seriously irritate your skin. The three worst toothpaste ingredients are alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, and menthol—all of them can irritate the skin more than help it. 

 Wart Cutting

Some people use a blade or other sharp instruments to cut off their warts. This can cause infection and you may harm yourself by an accidental cut. There are other safe home remedies for warts and they are effective too. However wart cutting is a dangerous cure. 

 Egg White Masks

Rumor has it that egg whites improve your complexion by tightening your skin, so many women hop on board. But actually, there is zero documented evidence that egg whites tighten your skin. If anything, people think it does because the egg whites dry on your face, so it feels tighter. But once you wash it off, it hasn't really done anything. Plus, there's a chance you get some in your mouth, and then you just end up sick. 

Inserting hair pins inside ears

In order to clear the dirt inside the ear, some people often insert hair pins. Also, some choose to wrap a cotton bud around a match stick and clean up the ear. But this technique may end you up losing your hearing abilities. There are chances that the matchstick breaks inside your ear gets stuck there. Going for this home remedy means inviting trouble for yourself surely.

A spoon of Castor Oil

Castor oil is considered an old home remedy for constipation. Castor oil is a stimulant laxative that can damage the intestines if taken too often. You can also become reliant on it to induce regular bowel movements. 

 Paraffin Intake

Most people give paraffin to their child for vomiting if they have accidentally ingested any poison such as kerosene. Paraffin is very toxic and it can go into the lungs during vomiting. It causes more damage to lungs than the stomach. Avoid giving your child home remedies such as paraffin, milk and charcoal for vomiting. This will prove to be a harmful home remedy. 

 Injurious dental remedies

There is no lack of dodgy home remedies for dental problems. One of these remedies is rubbing headache powder on to the gum area for suppressing toothache. Definitely, it is a dangerous idea that can chemically burn gums. It is better to take painkiller for getting rid of toothache. 

Drinking milk for Heartburn

This is the most common but worst home remedy. While cold drinking milk soothes the stomach and temporarily combats heartburn, milk fat may actually stimulate acid production and cause a rebound effect later

 Use of Colloidal silver

Colloidal silver, which is an at-home remedy sometimes used to treat a variety of ailments including arthritis, can not only cause fatigue, kidney problems and stomach issues but actually turns skin blue due to an accumulation of silver deposits in the body

 Word of caution

There are millions of people who swear by herbal remedies, and it’s likely that some of them actually work as said. The important thing to remember is that not all herbs are like the cilantro or rosemary you might pick up at the supermarket. Some herbs contain powerful ingredients that can be dangerous when not taken properly. Be cautious, stay safe! 

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.    

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Tips To Avoid excessive Burping

After eating a meal to your heart’s content, it is very normal to burp or belch. However, it is normal only when it happens occasionally, or after a meal, for someone used to a contented meal every single time. On the other hand, excessive burping or belching can happen due to two reasons.

1. Excessive air intake: There are multiple ways that excessive air can reach the food pipe. Sucking on straws, chewing gum constantly and ill-fitting dentures are some common reasons for burping.
2. Digestive problems: Ulcers in the stomach, prolonged gastric, gallstones and rarely, esophageal or stomach cancers can also cause burping.

When to see a doctor
Check with a doctor if you have persistent burping, followed by a meal or otherwise, and accompanied by the following symptoms.

1. Nausea
2. Bloody stools
3. Abdominal pain
4. Vomiting
5. Weight loss
6. Fever

Preventing belching

1. Go slow when eating and/or drinking: Most of us are pressed for time and eating and/or drinking has now become a task that needs to be finished quickly. Eating fast causes air to be swallowed, and therefore one of the best ways to stop burping is to eat slowly. Sitting in a calm, relaxing environment when eating also allows one to enjoy the food and avoid or stop burping.
2. Avoid talking while eating: There is always so much to catch up, whether at home or outside. So, talking while eating is a common practice. This is not just bad manners, but there is also a lot of air that is swallowed, which leads to burping. A solution is to chew the food properly, which not just helps stop burping, but also aids in better food digestion by mixing it adequately with saliva.
3. Substitute carbonated drink with water: Carbonated drinks are another reason for belching. Replacing them with water, tea, or anything non-carbonated is advisable, not just from burping perspective, but also from the excessive sugar consumption. Carbonated drinks are just sugar solutions, and are absolutely of no nutritive value.
4. Avoid straw: When possible, drink from a glass and avoid straws. This reduces the amount of gas taken in and helps stop burping
5. Quit smoking: Quitting it has multiple health benefits, and getting rid of smoking is just one of them.
6. Dentures: Ill-fitting dentures can be a reason for belching, and so they should be checked and corrected, if required, in a person who has persistent burping.
7. Chewing gum: Constantly chewing gum contributes to burping, and so avoiding chewing gum or sucking on hard candy is another way to control burping.
8. Avoid certain foods: Foodstuffs like broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, sprouts, and lentils can produce excessive gas and should be avoided in people who have persistent burping.

Follow the above steps in your daily routine; still if your burping problem persists, it is time to consult a physician.

 this is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   
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Are your dentures irritating you? If ill-fitting, they can cause cancer

Chronic irritation in the mouth resulting from ill-fitting dentures can cause oral cancer, warn researchers.

About 1,00,000 new cases of oral cancer are detected in India every year and it also leads to about 50,000 deaths annually.

“Chronic mucosal irritation resulting from ill-fitting dentures may be considered a risk factor for the development of oral cancer, such cancers occur commonly over the lateral border of the tongue,” said the research conducted by Hitesh Rajendra Singhvi, Akshat Malik and Pankaj Chaturvedi from the Department of Head and Neck Oncology at Tata Memorial Centre in Mumbai.

The doctors, however, said that no association has been proven between the duration of denture use and cancer formation.

Five-year survival of patients with early oral cancer is between 55% and 60% and it decreases to 30% and 40% in cases of advanced oral cancer, it said.

 The doctors reached the conclusion after reviewing 22 studies from across the world exploring links between mucosal trauma and cancer.

Nearly 80% of these cancers are associated with the use of tobacco, areca nut (supari), smoking and alcohol consumption. However, nearly 10% patients of oral cancer may not have history of such addictions.

A mucosa is a membrane that lines various cavities in the body and surrounds internal organs. Dentures are removable appliances that can replace missing teeth.

The doctors said that as per recent data from the Dental Council of India, there are about 1.5 lakh registered dentists for a population of about 1.3 billions, out of which 72% live in villages which remain deprived from dental care.

Among many reasons, low level of awareness among the population and the care providers even, has led to continued neglect of dental care.
 

this is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on. 
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htps://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes 
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