Once considered eliminated in the United States, measles is resurging due to declining vaccination rates, placing oral health professionals on the front lines of early detection and prevention.

With millions of cases still undiagnosed, xerostomia may be one of the earliest warning signs oral health professionals can identify if they know what to look for.

Modern caries management is shifting toward targeted remineralization strategies that combine chemistry, biology, and patient behavior to stop decay before it starts.

Emerging evidence suggests probiotics may rebalance the oral microbiome, reduce inflammation, and enhance periodontal outcomes beyond traditional therapy.

From chlorhexidine to essential oils, emerging evidence reveals which rinses truly disrupt biofilm and how to match them to patient needs.

Because xerostomia is more common in patients with diabetes, oral health professionals may play a key role in identifying undiagnosed disease through careful assessment, risk screening, and timely medical referral.

Simple screening tools and brief interventions can help dental teams identify substance use and mental health risks.

Understanding the role of macro- and micronutrients empowers oral health professionals to help patients reduce inflammation, strengthen tissues, and protect against periodontitis.

As evidence links oral health with mental illness and substance use disorders, oral health professionals are uniquely positioned to screen for these serious health issues.

Exploding research on salivary biomarkers and the oral microbiome is redefining the mouth as a powerful gateway to whole-body disease detection.