Tooth Mousse® for caries prevention – little evidence available

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This review of Tooth Mousse® (casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate) for caries prevention only identified 12 studies (8 RCTs). Many were of short duration and exhibited a great deal of heterogeneity; while there is some suggestion of benefit, the quality of the evidence is very low.

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What is the sociodemographic recipe for happiness?

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Mark Horowitz summarises a recent study that investigates the impact that socio-economic gradients have on mental well-being. He finds to his surprise that the relationship between socio-economic characteristics and low mental well-being is not the inverse of the relationship with high mental well-being.

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The Goldies: a community-based singing programme for successful ageing

Research shows that the median age for final menstrual period is 52.5 years, and that 90% of women have their final period by the age of 56.

In her debut blog, Jane Greenstock considers research on how community arts programmes such as singing clubs may contribute to prevention for older people.

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“Admission to a secure unit is an opportunity to reduce smoking” says guidance

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In this blog, Caroline De Brún and André Tomlin look at new guidance from Public Health England, to help commissioners and service providers instigate smoking cessation programmes and smoke-free secure mental health units.

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Water fluoridation effective at reducing caries

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This Cochrane review identified 155 studies with 107 contributing to the quantitative analysis. There was a 35% reduction in dmft and a 26% reduction in DMFT. There was an approximately 15% increase in the percentage of caries-free children after water fluoridation. At a fluoride level of 0.7 ppm, the percentage of participants with fluorosis of aesthetic concern was approximately 12%.

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Psychotherapy can reduce the risk of relapse or recurrence of depression

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Raluca Lucacel summarises a meta-analysis of psychological interventions in preventing recurrence of depression, which includes trials on cognitive behavioural therapy, interpersonal therapy and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy.

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Pointing the FINGER at a multi-component intervention to prevent cognitive decline and dementia

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Caroline Struthers critically appraises a recent RCT of diet, exercise, cognitive training and vascular risk monitoring to prevent cognitive decline and dementia in at-risk Finnish women.

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Can family-based interventions prevent young people from starting to smoke?

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Sally Adams summarises a recent Cochrane systematic review on family-based interventions for preventing smoking by children and adolescents, which shows the evidence is strongest for high intensity, family-based interventions that are independent of school-based programmes.

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How can commissioners improve the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people?

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Alison Turner summarises the Department of Health’s Future in Mind report, which builds on the work of the Children & Young People’s Mental Health Taskforce and sets out a vision for increased coordination and collaboration to improve mental health and wellbeing in children and young people.

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