The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between alcohol consumption and tooth loss. A questionnaire survey was conducted involving residents aged 40 years or older, and data from 25,216 subjects were included in the analysis. The characteristics of the subjects were compared regarding sex and alcohol consumption (never drinker, past drinker, and current drinker [1–149 g ethanol/week, 150–299 g ethanol/week, 300–449 g ethanol/week, and ≥450 g ethanol/week]). Next, the association between alcohol consumption and tooth loss was assessed using logistic regression analysis. The number of teeth (<20 teeth and edentulism) was used as a dependent variable, and the characteristics of the subjects were used as independent variables. In men, the presence of <20 teeth was significantly correlated with never drinker, past drinker, and consumption of ≥450 g ethanol/week (reference: 1–149 g ethanol/week; odds ratio [95% confidence interval]=1.49 [1.29–1.72], 1.25 [1.05–1.49], and 1.22 [1.07–1.39], respectively). Edentulism was significantly correlated with never drinker (1.70 [1.33–2.18]). In women, the presence of <20 teeth was significantly correlated with never drinker, 150–299 g ethanol/week, and consumption of ≥450 g ethanol/week (1.20 [1.08–1.34], 1.28 [1.04–1.57], and 1.64 [1.12–2.40], respectively). Edentulism was significantly correlated with consumption of ≥450 g ethanol/week (3.18 [1.31–7.76]). These results suggest that alcohol consumption showed a significant correlation with a reduced number of teeth, the correlation was stronger for current drinkers with higher alcohol consumption, and there were also sex differences in the strength of the correlation.

 This study assessed the oral health status among hospitalized severe psychiatric patients, and investigated the effect of using foam-type toothpaste with a high concentration of fluoride on oral hygiene, dental disease, and oral symptoms among these individuals.

 The subjects in this study were 52 severe psychiatric patients in a psychiatric hospital. The subjects were divided into an intervention group using a foam-type toothpaste with a high concentration of fluoride for three months and a control group not using this toothpaste. Questionnaire surveys regarding oral health behaviors, examinations of teeth, evaluations of the status of dental plaque and periodontitis in the labial part of anterior teeth, and measurements of the degree of moisture in the lingual mucosa were conducted before and after the intervention.

 Forty-six patients (23 males and 23 females, mean age: 62.3±10.5 years old) participated in the pre-intervention survey. Approximately 10% of them did not brush their teeth or use any toothpastes. The mean number of decayed teeth among them was 2.0±2.5. More than 90% of them had dental plaque and periodontitis in the labial part of the anterior teeth, and 15% had dry mouth.

 Forty-one subjects (18 in the intervention group and 23 in the control group) participated in the oral health examinations both before and after the intervention. The status of dental plaque and periodontitis among the subjects in the intervention group improved, but no such improvements were identified in the control group.

 The results revealed the poor oral health status among hospitalized severe psychiatric patients and the need for preventive measures against oral diseases for these patients. In addition, the findings demonstrated the effectiveness of using a foam-type toothpaste with a high concentration of fluoride for improving oral hygiene and periodontitis among these patients. Further studies are needed to clarify the preventive effect of this toothpaste on dental caries in these patients.

 The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between volatile sulfur compounds (VSC) and accumulation of tongue coating and periodontal conditions in patients complaining of oral malodor.

 The participants enrolled in this study were 156 outpatients of the Clinic for Breath Odor in Tokushima University Hospital. The data regarding sex, age, daily oral cleaning habits and smoking habits were obtained from electronic medical records in addition to the results of the gas chromatography (H₂S, CH₃SH, total VSC). The accumulation of tongue coating in subjects was quantified using the Winkle Tongue Coating Index (WTCI). The relationship between halitosis and the oral environment was statistically analyzed using the data from 37 participants who had been assessed for periodontal conditions and the status of oral hygiene.

 All VSC detected in the group with a tongue cleaning habit were significantly lower than those in the group without a tongue cleaning habit. A significant positive correlation was also observed between all VSC detected and WTCI and O’Leary PCR. Furthermore, a significant positive correlation was observed between Periodontal Epithelial Surface Area (PESA) and CH₃SH in patients diagnosed with genuine halitosis. The concentrations of VSC detected were determined by logarithm conversion and used as dependent variables for the multiple regression analysis. As a result, only WTCI was significantly correlated to all VSC values, and the partial correlation coefficient of H₂S, CH₃SH and total VSC were 0.519 (p<0.01), 0.479 (p<0.05) and 0.531 (p<0.01), respectively.

 These results indicated that the accumulation of tongue coating contributes to the production of VSC. Therefore, prevention of oral malodor to reduce the accumulation of tongue coating is needed.

 It has recently been reported that oral health behaviors such as toothbrushing habits are associated with lifestyle-related diseases. In this study, we created 24 3-minute YouTube videos related to oral health and lifestyle habits, and investigated the effects of watching videos while brushing teeth before going to bed, in principle, on changes in health behavior. Twenty-one university faculty members participated in this study. They watched one video a day while brushing their teeth before going to bed. A questionnaire survey was conducted at the time of the initial examination (before watching videos), after watching videos, and at approximately 6 months after the initial examination, to investigate changes in awareness and health behavior before and after watching the videos. The results revealed that approximately 70% of participants become more interested in their own teeth and mouth, and more than 60% of participants increased their knowledge and developed improved values in relation to oral health. A comparison of the results of the initial and 6-month questionnaires revealed a significant difference: the proportion of those who reported regular dental visits increased (from 33.3 to 57.1%). Four of the five subjects who did not use any interdental cleaning device at the baseline reported occasional use after 6 months. Our findings suggest that watching YouTube videos linked to daily toothbrushing habits may lead to changes in awareness and oral health behaviors. This measure could be effective as a tool to encourage busy working adults to place a higher priority on dental visits.