HEALTH MEDICAL NOTES

IN THE Forties it was observed that people living in a number of western communities had fewer dental cavities than Americans elsewhere. The drinking water in these communities, it was discovered, had high levels of natural fluoride.

In 1955, Procter & Gamble developed fluoride for use in toothpaste, and its Crest soon became the top seller. Although Crest has remained the nation’s most popular toothpaste, the last three years have seen its position slip.

To boost its sales, Procter & Gamble recently announced an “advanced formula” Crest, which it says substantially outperforms the old Crest. The manufacturer also plans to mount an advertising campaign costing $40 to $50 million. The stakes are high because Americans spend $700 million a year on toothpastes and tooth powders.

With all the claims and counterclaims – Colgate, for example, insists that its fluoridated toothpaste outperforms Crest-the public has reason to be confused. Moreover, the American Dental Association offers no guidance, saying that there is no clinical data available to suggest which is the best toothpaste. Amid the uncertainties, here are a few things to keep in mind when selecting a toothpaste:

The first is that fluoride has been proven effective, especially for children. It attacks oral bacteria that lead to decay. In the words of Dr. Andrew Christopher of the Georgetown School of Dentistry, it “armor-plates the teeth.” Fluoride goes by different names in different brands-Crest’s old one was “stannous fluoride” and its new one is “fluoristat,” and Colgate calls its own fluoride MFP.

The major ingredient in toothpaste is the abrasive, which makes up 40 to 50 per cent of commercial toothpastes. Much of Crest’s claim for its “new formula” is based not on fluoride but on a new abrasive.

The teeth of most people require some abrasion to prevent permanent staining. However, too much abrasion -especially when coupled with vigorous brushing with a hard brush -can damage the surface of teeth. Vote, Plus White Plus, Ultra Brite, and brands that claim to eliminate stains are highly abrasive. Children have softer enamel than adults and are especially vulnerable to these abrasives; unless there is a compelling reason to use them, they should be avoided. The most popular brands, such as Crest, Close-up, Aqua Fresh, Macleans, Colgate, and Pearl Drops, usually have a low to medium degree of abrasiveness, well within tolerable limits. Among the least abrasive brands are Therrnodent, T-Lak, and Listerine.

As we grow older our teeth are less vulnerable to cavities. This is because tooth enamel hardens, we usually eat fewer sweets, and many of our teeth are already filled with gold or silver.

The major tooth problem of middle age is periodontal (gum) disease. The best way to prevent it may be to use baking soda or other high-salt dentifrices, such as Pic-O-Pay powder, instead of toothpastes, or at least in conjunction with them.

Dr. Paul Keyes, an investigator at the National Institutes of Dental Research who has studied salt solutions and periodontal disease, recommends daily use of such a solution – a baking soda-and-water paste, for instance.

Dr. Christopher agrees that such solutions “really attack the microorganisms that lead to periodontal disease.” He himself uses baking soda, as does everyone in the Keyes household.

A final note: Select a soft toothbrush unless your dentist recommends otherwise.



DOES ICE CREAM reduce or prevent high blood pressure?

A University of Oregon researcher’s recent findings suggest that a high intake of calcium may reduce hypertension. Dr. David A. McCarron compared 50 people suffering from hypertension to 50 who did not, and found that the “hypertensives” consumed 39 per cent less dairy calcium and 22 per cent less calcium overall. The groups did not differ significantly in consumption of salt.

Dr. McCarron found that the older hypertensives consumed less ice cream, milk, and cheese than the younger ones. In the non-hypertensive control group the opposite was true, suggesting that high calcium intake might have a dampening effect on high blood pressure. It is known that adults in the U.S. consume less calcium than younger people.

In animal studies, Dr. McCarron found that greatly increasing the calcium intake of rats suffering from high blood pressure dramatically improved their condition.



SEVEN OF every 10 Americans experience headaches. If you’re a bigwig in business, you’re even more likely to suffer from them. A survey by Sandoz Pharmaceuticals, a manufacturer of many headache preparations, finds that nine of every 10 executive officers in U.S. corporations experience them. Most of the latter use aspirin and other remedies, but 40 per cent have such severe and recurrent headaches that they have undergone neurological evaluations and take prescription drugs regularly.

A FEW YEARS ago, researchers discovered that people who took large daily doses of aspirin – usually for arthritis – suffered substantially fewer heart attacks than did non-aspirin takers. Now comes word from Yale that heavy aspirin users appear to have fewer cataracts than the rest of the population. Aspirin is known to interfere with the circulation of certain chemicals that may contribute to the formation of cataract (clouding of the eye).

The Yale researchers who did this study stress that it is only preliminary. A more carefully controlled investigation will be conducted later this year.



A CLASS of drugs called beta blockers – one of the major pharmaceutical developments in the last several years -has been helpful in treating such conditions as heart arrhythmias, high blood pressure, migraine headaches, and angina. Now there is evidence that they may be useful in combating anxiety, too. They slow heartbeat and reduce the force of the heart’s contractions.

But beta blockers, unlike tranquilizers and alcohol, apparently do not have a sedating effect.

As of now, the FDA, which waited for years before it aproved the use of beta blockers for high blood pressure, has not approved them for anxiety relief.



A DRUG called Transderm-V, recently introduced by Ciba Pharmaceuticals, offers a new approach to the treatment of seasickness. It is applied directly to the skin.

In a recent test, 75 per cent of the subjects who used it found it to be effective in preventing the nausea usually produced by motion. Sold by prescription only, the drug contains 1.5 milligrams of scopol-amine, which is often used in over-the-counter sleeping preparations.



THREE JOHNS HOPKINS researchers, after reviewing several studies of alcohol use, say that alcohol taken in moderate amounts may be good for you. Consider:

There is now substantial evidence that moderate drinkers outlive teetotalers. Besides the well-known beneficial effects alcohol has on cholesterol and HDL, there is evidence suggesting that it also relieves tension, nervousness, depression, and sleeplessness.

The Hopkins researchers say that a200-pounder qualifies as a “moderate”drinker only if he or she consumes fewerthan five 12-ounce cans of beer or less thana pint and a half of wine a day. For someone weighing, say, 110 pounds, the limitswould be approximately half that.