Good oral care such as regular brushing, flossing and trips to the dentist, may help aging adults keep their thinking skills intact, according to a U.S. study.

Betel nut consumption can increase the chances of developing cancer of the mouth by 28 times, 89 times if coupled with smoking, and a staggering 123 times for the person who smokes and drinks, medical experts revealed yesterday.

Taiwan's top official in charge of agriculture said Monday that a proposed betel nut tax, if levied, should be used to facilitate land conservation and ecological protection.

A 37-year-old woman in Taichung City was diagnosed with bruxism, or grinding of the teeth, likely as a result of stress, reported local media yesterday.

A smoking addict in Tainan County lost his artificial tooth three days after it was implanted, local media reported yesterday.

The public Taichung Hospital announced yesterday that elderly people from low- and mid-income families in the city may apply for a city government subsidy to help cover the cost of dentures.

As long as there are hockey players, there will be niche markets for false teeth. But the real news about the future of dentures is that there isn't much of one.

If a patient thinks he or she has an unnatural fear of dental treatments, the dentist should be given prior notice, the German Green Cross (DGK) recommends.

An anti-betelnut program launched by Taipei City in late May helped 91 out of 153 betel nut addicts kick their habit, marking a 60 percent success rate, a local health official said yesterday.

A Cologne-based dental health initiative recommends brushing the tongue as well as the teeth twice a day because bacteria, which cause bad breath, also collect on the tongue.