Oral Device To Help Tourette Syndrome?

Do suffer from Tourette Syndrome? You may be in luck! Researchers at Osaka University in Japan have developed a removable oral device that can help adults and children with their tics.

There are many ways to treat tics which include behavioral therapy, medication and surgery. However, these treatments work different on each individual person. This is why the researchers at Osaka University decided to develop a custom-made oral splint. This device is similar to mouth guard and retainers but are only applied to the back molars which increases the Occlusal Vertical Dimension. 

According to Jumpei Murakami, author of the study says "Biting down on the device immediately improved both motor and vocal tics in 10 of the 14 children and 6 of the 8 adults that participated in the study." "What's more, these effects were long lasting. Long-term improvements in motor tics after more than 100 days were especially evident in patients who were younger when their tics first started."

Osaka University plans to do larger-scaled studies! 

It will be interesting to see the results of the larger study and how it changed the lives of people who suffer from Tourettes.

Information found here!

Bad Breath Could Mean Bad Health!

Yuck, what is that smell? Could it be your breath? Checking your breath may not just save you from embarrassing social moments, but it may save your life. Recurring bad breath could be a sign of underlying medical conditions.

• Electric Nose Technology: Detects lung cancer from bad breath- This is a cheaper alternative than doing a biopsy to detect lung cancer. The "electronic nose detects different profiles of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in exhaled breaths." All you would need is a simple breath test.
• Breath tests can detect heart failure- By taking a breath test, Researchers can use "mass spectrometry technology to analyze the sample for molecular and chemical compound signs of heart failure."
• Fish Breath: Kidney Failure: "The fishy breath occurs when kidney failure affects the respiratory system" and makes it hard to breathe. This is because the damaged kidneys can no longer filter waste products from the blood and turn it into urine.
• Sleep Conditions may cause dry mouth- Saliva decreases during sleep, which creates a breeding ground for bacteria.
• Excess Weight- A poor diet and lack of water can play a significant role in bad breath. Try drinking large amounts of water and eating lots of fruit and vegetables, this will help keep breath fresh.

If you notice recurring bad breath, please seek medical help!

Information was found here!