Inequality in dental flossing behavior among Korean adults based on household income levels.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to estimate the association between household income and dental flossing. METHODS: This cross-sectional study investigated the impact of household income on flossing among 9,391 adults aged 30+ with ≥20 natural teeth, utilizing data from the seventh Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2016-2018). Outcome measures included flossing (yes/no), with income categorized into 4 levels: lowest, medium to low, medium to high, and highest. Logistic regression, adjusted for age, gender, brushing frequency, recent dental exams, periodontitis, smoking, and alcohol use, was employed to evaluate the influence of socioeconomic status on oral hygiene practices. RESULTS: In the highest income group, flossing was 62.6% more prevalent than in the lowest income group (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.63; 95% CI, 1.27 to 2.08). The strongest association between income levels and flossing was observed in individuals aged ≥70 years (aOR, 3.64; 95% CI, 1.86 to 7.11), with a decreasing strength of association in the 60s (aOR, 1.72; 95% CI, 1.05 to 2.84) and 50s age groups (aOR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.07 to 2.68). Higher-income women demonstrated a higher frequency of flossing than their lower-income counterparts (aOR, 1.67; 95% CI, 1.24 to 2.23). Higher-income individuals without periodontitis were more likely to floss (aOR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.23 to 2.18), and among those with periodontitis, flossing was significantly associated only with the highest income category (aOR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.10 to 2.44). CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study indicate a significant correlation between higher household income levels and an increased prevalence of flossing.

Effects of multigrain rice and white rice on periodontitis: an analysis using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2012-2015.

OBJECTIVES: Numerous studies have investigated the efficacy of whole grains; however, research on multigrain remains limited. Grains exhibit combined positive effects against various diseases. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of multigrain and white rice consumption on periodontitis. METHODS: We analyzed data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey V-3 and VI, collected between 2012 and 2015, which included 12,450 patients (4,859 male and 7,591 female) aged 19-64 years. The World Health Organization's Community Periodontal Index (CPI) was utilized to assess the presence of periodontitis, with periodontitis defined as a CPI index score of ≥3. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed after adjusting for potential confounding variables. RESULTS: The group that consumed only multigrain rice was less likely to have periodontitis than the group that consumed only white rice (odds ratio [OR], 0.80; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.69 to 0.93). When stratified by sex, the risk of periodontitis demonstrated a 24% decrease in female who consumed only multigrain rice (OR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.62 to 0.93). A similar result was observed in the age group of 40-64 years (OR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.71 to 0.99). In the diabetes stratification model, the normal group that consumed only multigrain rice exhibited a 25% decrease in the odds of periodontitis (OR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.62 to 0.91). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the prevalence of periodontitis may vary depending on the type of rice consumed.

Association between breastfeeding and periodontitis in Korean women using Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES): a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: The effect of breastfeeding on periodontal disease in women remains unclear. This cross-sectional study used data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to explore the association between breastfeeding and periodontitis in Korean women using data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES VII). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cross-sectional data was analyzed from the KNHANES 2016-2018. The study population included 5,587 parous women aged ≥ 30 years. The outcome variable was the presence or absence of periodontitis. The explanatory variable, period of breastfeeding, was defined as "none", "1-11 months", and "more than 12 months". Confounder variables (socio-educational, personal healthcare practice, and systemic medical characteristics) were adjusted for in the logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Approximately 60% of the participants breastfed for ≥ 12 months. In all statistical models, the prevalence of periodontitis was approximately 60% greater in women that did not breastfeed compared to women that had breastfed for 12 months or longer. When adjusted for age, statistical significance was only present in the 50-59 years age group (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.678; 95% confidence interval [CIs], 1.046-2.691). CONCLUSION: Our study shows that women that breastfed for a relatively long duration had a lower risk of periodontitis. Therefore, breastfeeding may be beneficial for women's periodontal health. These results are expected to be helpful in oral health education for pregnant women.

[The glymphatic system: concept, function and research progresses].

The glymphatic system is a cerebrospinal fluid-interstitial fluid exchange system dependent on the water channel aquaporin-4 polarized on astrocyte endfeet, which is proposed to account for the clearance of abnormal proteins (e.g. ß-amyloid) and metabolites (e.g. lactate) from the brain. Accumulating studies have revealed that glymphatic activity during sleep and general anesthesia is dramatically enhanced, while its function is significantly damaged during aging, traumatic brain injury, Alzheimer's disease, stroke, and diabetes. The glymphatic hypothesis is a breakthrough in the field of neuroscience recently, which would considerably enhance our comprehension on the cerebrospinal fluid circulation and its role in the maintenance of brain homeostasis. In this review, we briefly introduced the conceptualization of glymphatic system, summarized the recent progresses, and prospected its future investigation and potential clinical application.

The Fabrication of Nano-Particles in Aqueous Solution From Oxyfluoride Glass Ceramics by Thermal Induction and Corrosion Treatment.

An innovative route is reported to fabricate nano-particles in aqueous solution from oxyfluoride glass by the thermal induction and corrosion treatment in this letter. The investigations of X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscope based on nano-particles in glass ceramics (GCs) and aqueous solution indicate that the nano-particles formed in glass matrix during the thermal induction process are released to aqueous solution and their structure, shape and luminescent properties in glass host can be kept. Owing to the designable composition of the nano-particles during glass preparation process, the method is a novel way to obtain nano-particles in aqueous solution from GCs.