Tag Archives: teeth

For decades, small grooves on ancient human teeth were thought to be evidence of deliberate tool use – people cleaning their teeth with sticks or fibres, or easing gum pain with makeshift “toothpicks”. Some researchers even called it the oldest human habit. But our new findings, published in the American Journal of Biological Anthropology, challenge this long-held idea about human …

Most of us treat the mouth as though it is separate from the rest of the body. A new line of clinical evidence says that is a mistake. Oral health, including both teeth and gums, could also be important for heart health by preventing arterial thickening. A rigorous study in adults with severe gum disease found that thorough gum treatment …

The patient: A 34-year-old man named Brent Chapman in British Columbia, Canada The medical history: When Chapman was 13 years old, he had a rare and serious autoimmune reaction after taking a normal dose of ibuprofen. This reaction, known as Stevens-Johnson syndrome, trips the immune system, causing cells to attack the skin and mucus membranes. In this case, the syndrome …

The actor Lily James has blamed vaping for damaging her teeth and driving tooth decay that required her to have her first dental filling. Here we look at what the science says about vaping and its potential impact on teeth and oral health. Is smoking bad for teeth? A hefty proportion of vapers are former smokers or smoke as well …

Until Homo floresiensis was discovered, scientists assumed that the evolution of the human lineage was defined by bigger and bigger brains. Via a process called encephalization, human brains evolved to be relatively more massive than would be expected based on corresponding body size. This proportionally bigger brain is what anthropologists argued enabled us and our relatives to perform more complex …

Caught male Spotted Ratfish (Hydrolagus colliei) showing the [extended/erect] frontal clasper (tenaculum) on the front of the head. Credit: Gareth J. Fraser, University of Florida Male ghost sharks use tooth-studded rods on their foreheads for mating. Fossil and genetic evidence prove they are true teeth, showcasing evolutionary flexibility. Male “ghost sharks,” eerie deep-sea fish known as chimaeras and closely related …

Are those teeth on your forehead or are you just happy to see me? In the curious case of chimaeras, also called ghost sharks, the answer is ‘both.’ These forehead-teeth are attached to a retractable stalk called a tenaculum, and they help chimaeras have sex. Because of course. Whether these nodules are true teeth in every sense of the word, …

New research has found that our oceans will become more acidic, which could damage shark teeth and change the balance of some of our aquatic ecosystems. What’s happening? The research, published in August by a team of German researchers and reported on by Mongabay, focused on the impacts of future ocean acidification. In particular, researchers focused on projections that suggest …

DETROIT — By the time coach Ben Johnson arrived at his postgame news conference late Sunday afternoon, he already had time to process the stunning beatdown his Chicago Bears took Sunday at Ford Field, a 52-21 loss to the Detroit Lions that somehow didn’t even feel that close. The Bears trailed by at least two scores the entire second half. …

Do they make dentures for sharks? In the future, they might need to, with recent research suggesting that sharks may lose their deadly bite to ocean acidification. Shark teeth are the envy of the animal kingdom: they’re sharp and constantly growing. When one tooth falls out, the next is ready to spring up in its place. This dental regeneration is …