BACKGROUND Current smokers exhibit a higher rate of betel-quid chewing than non-smokers. However, little is known regarding the extent to which betel-quid chewing may affect attempts to quit smoking and smoking cessation. The aim of the present study is to examine the association between betel-quid chewing and patterns of quitting smoking. Specifically, we explore whether betel-quid chewing is ...

ABSTRACT Dental microwear texture analysis (DMTA) is widely used for diet inferences in extant and extinct vertebrates. Often, a reference tooth position analysed specimens, while isolated teeth are lumped together fossil datasets. It therefore important to test whether dental (DMT) specific and, if so, what causes the differences wear. Here, we present results from controlled feeding experimen...

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to investigate the dimensionality, reliability, and validity of an alternate version of the chewing function questionnaire in partially dentate patients in Japan. METHODS Subjects were partially dentate patients who attended the prosthodontic clinic at Tokyo Medical and Dental University (N = 491, 71% women, mean age (+/- SD): 63.0 +/- 11.5 years). The que...

Surface EMG activities in the masseter muscle were recorded from 8 healthy men with normal permanent dentition during habitual chewing of a small cube of synthetic cellulose sponge which had absorbed distilled water. Three parameters of chewing rhythm, viz., cycle time, duration, and interval, were shown as the respective averages of 40 measurements of the EMG traces of a masticatory series of ...

Background: The use/abuse of psychoactive drugs such as khat leaves (Catha edulis) are believed to alter one’s moods or emotional state either through the sustained release or inhibition of neurotransmitters, thereby enhancing or dampening the response of the individual. Most people whose thinking are warped by continued drug use may not be able to see the harm resulting from their actions. Thu...

BACKGROUND The high dental disease burden in developing countries has created a need to explore and develop cheap and accessible methods of dental disease prevention. Traditional toothbrushes (chewing-sticks) prepared from specific plants have been used for dental hygiene for generations. When properly used, chewing-sticks may be as effective as synthetic toothbrushes. This study set out to des...

INTRODUCTION Radiation-induced xerostomia is a frequent late side effect after treatment for oral and oropharyngeal cancers. This may induce swallowing difficulties, compromised oral well-being, reduced nutrition intake, or speech deficiencies. Consequently, quality of life is often impaired for these patients. OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to investigate the possibility to mechani...