Your Child’s Cavities May Predict Heart Disease Decades Later, Landmark Study Finds

Illustration showing the connection between a child's dental health and long-term heart health, representing the University of Copenhagen oral-cardiovascular study findings.

A major new study from the University of Copenhagen, the largest of its kind ever conducted, has found that children with numerous tooth cavities had up to a 45% higher incidence of heart attack, stroke, and coronary artery disease as adults compared to children with healthier teeth.  The study tracked 568,778 individuals from childhood into adulthood and … Read more

Pediatric Dental Sedation Works in Only 7 of 10 Cases, New Study Finds. What Parents Should Know Before Agreeing

Young child receiving minimal sedation at a pediatric dental office with a dentist and assistant present

A major new study published in the peer-reviewed journal Anesthesia Progress has found that dental sedation succeeded in just 69.3% of cases involving young children, meaning roughly 3 in 10 children who received sedation for a dental procedure did not have a fully successful outcome. The study analyzed records from 824 children aged 2 to … Read more

New York Invests $10 Million in School Dental Care. Here Is What Queens Parents Need to Know

School-aged child receiving a dental checkup at a school-based health center dental clinic in New York

Governor Kathy Hochul announced on February 27, 2026, that the New York State Department of Health will distribute $10 million in funding to expand dental care services at 33 school-based health centers across New York State over five years. The program delivers free preventive and restorative dental care, including screenings, sealants, and treatments, directly inside … Read more

Pediatric Dentists Sound Alarm Over EPA Fluoride Review and Why Queens Parents Should Pay Attention

Glass of tap water beside a children's toothbrush representing fluoride in drinking water and kids dental health

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), representing more than 11,000 pediatric dental specialists nationwide, formally challenged the Environmental Protection Agency’s approach to reviewing fluoride in drinking water on February 27, 2026. The AAPD, joined by 140 state and national organizations including the American Dental Association, multiple American Academy of Pediatrics state chapters, and the … Read more

Why More Kids Are Landing in the ER for Tooth Pain, and What Queens Parents Should Do Now

Parent comforting young child with toothache in hospital emergency room waiting

Emergency room visits for non-traumatic dental pain in children under age 15 rose nearly 60 percent between 2019 and 2022, according to data from the CareQuest Institute for Oral Health published in a major KFF Health News investigation on March 10, 2026. At Children’s Hospital Colorado, non-traumatic dental ER cases climbed 175 percent between 2010 … Read more

Hydroxyapatite Toothpaste for Kids: What the Research Shows and What Dentists Actually Recommend

Fluoride toothpaste versus hydroxyapatite toothpaste for kids — comparing safety and evidence for cavity prevention

Reviewed by our dental health editorial team. Last Updated: March 2026. Quick Answer: Nano-hydroxyapatite (n-HAp) toothpaste is a mineral-based fluoride alternative gaining significant popularity, especially among parents concerned about fluoride following the 2025 FDA supplement restriction. Research shows it can remineralize early enamel damage comparably to low-concentration fluoride. However, no n-HAp toothpaste currently holds the … Read more

Can Your Child’s Cavities Affect Their Heart Health Decades Later? New Research Says Possibly

Child at dental checkup connected to heart health — University of Copenhagen study links childhood cavities to adult heart disease risk

Reviewed by our dental health editorial team. Last Updated: March 2026. Quick Answer: A March 2026 study from the University of Copenhagen analyzed health records from 568,000 children and found that kids with multiple cavities had up to 45% higher incidence of cardiovascular disease as adults. Kids with severe gingivitis had up to 41% higher … Read more

Is Fluoride Safe for Children? What the 2025 FDA Warning Actually Changed

Parent and child brushing teeth together

Reviewed by our dental health editorial team. Last Updated: March 2026. Quick Answer: The FDA’s October 2025 warning restricted ingestible fluoride supplements — not toothpaste, not drinking water. New York City still fluoridates its water at the CDC-recommended level. A Harvard study found a nationwide ban would create 25.4 million additional cavities in children within … Read more