#  HSDM in the Media 

 



Our faculty and students continuously push the boundaries of dental education, pioneering new methods in teaching and learning while staying rooted in research, clinical practice, and health policy. With their deep expertise, HSDM leaders shape crucial conversations in oral health, giving dental professionals and patients a powerful voice for impactful and lasting change.



 

 

  [### Five Questions with Tien Jiang

 ](https://www.harvardmagazine.com/five-questions/harvard-brushing-teeth-heart-health-research)HSDM Assistant Professor Tien Jiang explains how gum disease and inflammation may increase cardiovascular risk, underscoring how daily brushing, flossing, and diet protect both oral and heart health. *~ Harvard Magazine, February 25, 2026*



 

 

   ![Graphic with three mouths and hearts with a line connecting them ](/sites/g/files/omnuum6001/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-02/oralhealth_blue.png?itok=HFM7Tzrj) 

 



 

 

   [### 5 things dental experts want you to do for healthy teeth and gums

 ](https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2025/08/05/oral-health-brushing-flossing-tips/)Dr. Tien Jiang, assistant professor of oral health policy and epidemiology, shares that proper brushing technique matters more than the type of toothbrush for keeping teeth and gums healthy. *~Washington Post, Aug. 5, 2025*



 

 

   ![toothbrush and a piece of floss with a sink in the background](/sites/g/files/omnuum6001/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-08/AdobeStock_1087454756.jpg?itok=98iN_HIU) 

 



 

 

   [### Engineers transform dental floss into needle-free vaccine

 ](https://www.science.org/content/article/engineers-transform-dental-floss-needle-free-vaccine)HSDM Dean William Giannobile calls a floss-based vaccine approach “clever”; notes surprise at the strong immune response and urges testing in people with gum disease. —*ScienceAdviser 22 Jul 2025*



 

 

   ![close up of a person flossing their teeth](/sites/g/files/omnuum6001/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-07/vaccine_floss_lede.jpg?itok=HtjDx2qs) 

 



 

 

   [### The fallout from Trump’s attack on Harvard is rippling through clinics, labs, and research centers across the country

 ](https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/06/30/metro/trump-funding-freeze-harvard)As federal cuts to Harvard ripple nationwide, HSDM’s rural dental program where Dr. Sara Alibakhshi treated patients, stands among many life-saving efforts at risk. — *Boston Globe*, June 30, 2025



 

 

   ![dentist in the clinic](/sites/g/files/omnuum6001/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-07/rural%20care%20program.jpg?itok=1pDu0dOh) 

 



 

 

   [### Removing fluoride from water could increase dental care costs, tooth decay study finds

 ](https://www.cbsnews.com/video/removing-fluoride-water-could-increase-dental-care-costs-tooth-decay-study-finds/)Dr. Lisa Simon, co-author of a new study, joins "The Daily Report" to discuss how removing fluoride from U.S. water systems could raise tooth decay in children and drive up dental care costs. —*CBS News*



 

 

   ![Lisa Simon interviewed on CBS](/sites/g/files/omnuum6001/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-06/Lisa%20Simon.png?h=9d30aa57&itok=kop1_4Fi) 

 



 

 

   [### Dry socket: Preventing and treating a painful condition that can occur after tooth extraction

 ](https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/dry-socket-preventing-and-treating-a-painful-condition-that-can-occur-after-tooth-extraction)HSDM’s Dr. Tien Jiang explains how to prevent dry socket, a painful complication that can follow tooth extraction, in a recent Harvard Health article. —*Harvard Health Publishing*



 

 

   ![close up of a bearded man with a hand on the side of his face](/sites/g/files/omnuum6001/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-06/toothache.jpg?itok=mawJ-Yst) 

 



 

 

   [### An opportunity to work as sustainably as possible

 ](https://www.dentalbite.co/an-opportunity-to-work-as-sustainably-as-possible/)HSDM’s Dr. Donna Hackley highlights how students and professionals can drive sustainability in dentistry through education, research, and practical strategies that reduce environmental impact.—*DentalBite*



 

 

   ![wooden recycled toothbrushes in a jar and one displayed in front of jar](/sites/g/files/omnuum6001/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-05/sustainability-image.jpg?h=19cdf95a&itok=ItoEBIGM) 

 



 

 

   [### 4 ways your teeth and gums are changing

 ](https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/4-ways-your-teeth-and-gums-are-changing)HSDM’s Dr. Lisa Thompson explains four key ways your teeth and gums change with age—and what you can do now to protect your oral health. — *Harvard Health Letter*



 

 

   ![older woman looking in the mirror and brushing her teeth](/sites/g/files/omnuum6001/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-04/Teeth%20brushing.jpg?itok=Fj4b_dkV) 

 



 

 

   [### As opposition to fluoride grows, rural America risks a new surge of tooth decay

 ](https://www.npr.org/2025/03/26/nx-s1-5338882/as-opposition-to-fluoride-grows-rural-america-risks-a-new-surge-of-tooth-decay)HSDM faculty members Drs. Catherine Hayes and Hawazin Elani were quoted in an NPR article that highlights rising oral health concerns in rural areas of the U.S.—  *KFF Health News,* NPR



 

 

   ![rural town](/sites/g/files/omnuum6001/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-03/rural%20America.jpg?itok=hP7NtToW) 

 



 

 

   [### A Guide to Treating and Avoiding Canker Sores

 ](https://time.com/7261601/canker-sores-how-to-treat-prevent/)HSDM Associate Professor Herve Sroussi explains the mystery behind canker sores—why they happen, when to worry, and how to treat them. What could be causing yours?  
*Time*



 

 

   ![canker sore](/sites/g/files/omnuum6001/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-03/Canker%20sore%20article.png?itok=-f5ZaF95) 

 



 

 

   [### Gum disease and heart health: Probing the link

 ](https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/gum-disease-and-heart-health-probing-the-link)Gum disease may impact heart health, says Dr. Tien Jiang, a prosthodontist in the Department of Oral Health Policy and Epidemiology, highlighting how oral bacteria and inflammation contribute to cardiovascular risk.   
*Harvard Health Publishing*



 

 

   ![Dentist with a patient](/sites/g/files/omnuum6001/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-01/dentist%20with%20patient%202.jpg?h=0cc75b09&itok=DiqveHbG) 

 



 

 

   [### How your dentist could save your life

 ](https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/how-your-dentist-could-save-your-life)Dentists do more than check for cavities—they can spot signs of over 100 health conditions. Dr. Christine Riedy, associate professor in oral public health and epidemiology, highlights their vital role in overall health.  
*Harvard Health Publishing*



 

 

   ![Dentist working with a patient](/sites/g/files/omnuum6001/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-01/Dentist%20with%20patient.png?itok=NanCd1Mn)