Gum Disease, Heart Disease Share Genetic Link

(HealthDay News) -- A genetic link between gum disease (periodontitis) and heart disease has been discovered by German scientists. Read more

Obesity Boosts Gum Disease Risk

(HealthDay News) -- Obese adults are at higher risk of gum disease than are normal-weight people, a new study finds.

For many years, researchers have been trying to determine the link between gum disease and cardiovascular risk, said study author Monik Jimenez, a doctoral candidate at the Harvard School of Public Health.

To explore the possible connection between excess weight and periodontal problems, Jimenez and her colleagues analyzed data from nearly 37,000 men who participated in the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study. They were free of periodontal disease at the beginning of the study and were followed for up to 16 years, from 1986 to 2002.

Researchers gathered information on the men's height, weight and self-reported gum disease diagnoses, as well as their waist and hip measurements.

"Obesity was associated with a 29 percent increased risk of periodontal disease over the course of the study" compared to those of normal weight, Jimenez said. She used the standard definition of obesity as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.

"There was a negligibly small risk" of gum disease among those who were overweight but not obese, she said.

Waist circumference was linked to a higher risk of gum disease, too. Men with a waist of 40 inches or more -- considered a risk for heart disease -- had a 19 percent higher risk of getting gum disease than those with a waist under 40 inches.

In a second study, Jimenez and her colleagues at the University of Puerto Rico in San Juan found that an elevated waist-hip ratio (WHR) was linked to a greater risk of moderate gum disease in men and women age 70 and above.

Those with an elevated waist-to-hip ratio were nearly six more likely to have gum disease as those who did not have an elevated waist-to-hip ratio. In women, the waist-to-hip ratio is considered elevated if it is .88 or above; in men, if it is .95 or higher. For instance, a woman with a 36-inch waist and 40-inch hips has a WHR of .90.

Jimenez is scheduled to present the findings Saturday at the International Association for Dental Research general session in Miami Beach, Fla.

The findings build on previous research, said David Cochran, president of the American Academy of Periodontology and chairman of the Department of Periodontics at the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio.

"It's been known that diabetics' gum disease is worse," he said. There have been other associations uncovered, such as heart disease and gum disease and gum disease and cancer risk in men. In a previous study, researchers found a link between obesity and gum disease in younger people.

>Gum diseases include a mild form called gingivitis, in which gums bleed easily. But that can progress to periodontitis, in which bacteria in the plaque irritate the gums and provoke an inflammatory response, according to the American Academy of Periodontology.

The common denominator may be inflammation, Cochran said. "Periodontal inflammation and inflammation throughout the body are very much associated with one another," he said.

While the new studies don't prove cause-and-effect, Cochran said it's reason enough to recommend a heart-healthy diet that's also good for your gums.

More information
To assess your risk of gum disease, visit the American Academy of Periodontology.

Biological Product Shows Promise Against Gum Disease

(HealthDay News) -- Resolvins, a new family of biologically active products of omega-3 fatty acids, may be able to remedy the inflammation of periodontal disease and restore gums to health, say Boston University researchers.

Two types of resolvins are made from the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), both of which keep blood triglycerides under control and may inhibit the progression of atherosclerosis. EPA and DHA help reduce inflammation and are often used to help people with inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn disease, according to background information in a new release from the International & American Association for Dental Research.

Resolvins of the E series (RvE1) are derived from EPA, and resolvins of the D series (RvD1) are derived from DHA. Previous research showed that RvE1 provided protection against soft tissue and bone loss associated with gum disease and actually restored lost soft tissue and bone to healthy levels.

In this new study, the researchers caused gum disease in rabbits by applying P. gingivitis, the bacteria that causes gum disease in humans. Treatment with RvD1 was beneficial.

The study was to be presented Saturday at the research association's meeting in Miami.

The finding supports the researchers' hypothesis that DHA-derived resolvins, as well as those derived from EPA, have the potential to resolve inflammation and restore periodontal health, the association said in its news release.

More information
The American Academy of Periodontology has more about gum disease.

Health Tip: Prevent Bleeding Gums

(HealthDay News) -- Bleeding gums can occur because teeth haven't been properly brushed and flossed, or as a side effect of conditions including leukemia, scurvy or vitamin K deficiency.

The U.S. National Library of Medicine offers these suggestions to help keep gums healthy:

• Don't smoke or use other forms of tobacco.
• Take vitamin supplements, as recommended by your doctor.
• Don't take aspirin, unless your doctor advises otherwise.
• If medication is causing your gums to bleed, ask your doctor about possible alternatives.
• Massage your gums gently with an oral irrigation tool. Set the device on low.
• Make sure dentures fit properly, and talk to your dentist if they cause bleeding or soreness.
• If your gums do bleed, wet a gauze pad with ice water and hold it to the affected area.
  
  
  

A Healthy Mouth

Gingivitis, inflammation of the gums with resultant recession of gum tissue and damage to teeth, is a common condition of middle-age. Often it necessitates painful, costly surgical treatment. If your dental hygiene habits aren't the best, keep in mind that a little effort can go a long way. Maintaining a healthy diet, not smoking, and practicing good oral hygiene can prevent most gum disease. Read More...

Repair Receding Gums

Study Suggests Gum Disease Increases Men's Cancer Risk

CHICAGO—June 4, 2008—Most people already know that maintaining oral health is a vital component of achieving overall health, but a recent study reveals why it is especially crucial that men pay close attention to their teeth and gums. Research published in the June issue of The Lancet Oncology found that men with a history of gum disease are 14 percent more likely to develop cancer than men with healthy gums. In fact, researchers uncovered that men with periodontal disease may be:

• 49 percent more likely to develop kidney cancer
• 54 percent more likely to develop pancreatic cancer
• 30 percent more likely to develop blood cancers
• “Previous research has suggested a potential link betwe

en gum disease and other conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis,” says Dr. Susan Karabin, President of the AAP. “This study should prompt men to be particularly mindful of their teeth and gums now that gum disease may play a role in the onset of cancer.”

Gum disease can be managed with daily brushing and flossing, and routine visits to a dental health professional. Men who develop gum disease should consider consulting with a periodontist, the dentist specially trained in the prevention and treatment of periodontal disease. A periodontist can help develop an effective treatment plan to best manage the disease.

To learn more about gum disease, locate a periodontist, or to find out if you are at risk for periodontal diseases, visit perio.org or call (800) FLOSS-EM (800/356-7736).

The FDA Finally States Mercury Filings May Cause Health Problems

Silver-colored metal dental fillings contain mercury that may cause health problems in pregnant women, children and fetuses, the Food and Drug Administration said on Wednesday after settling a related lawsuit.

As part of the settlement with several consumer advocacy groups, the FDA agreed to alert consumers about the potential risks on its website and to issue a more specific rule next year for fillings that contain mercury, FDA spokeswoman Peper Long said.

Millions of Americans have the fillings, or amalgams, to patch cavities in their teeth.

"Dental amalgams contain mercury, which have neurotoxic effects on the nervous systems of developing children and fetuses," the FDA said in a notice on its Web site.

"Pregnant women and persons who may have a health condition that makes them more sensitive to mercury exposure, including individuals with existing high levels of mercury bioburden, should not avoid seeking dental care, but should discuss options with their health practitioner," the agency said.

According to Dr. Robert O. Young, a research scientist at the pH Miracle Living Center, "mercury filings can be a focal point for acidic toxicity and poisoning of the blood and tissues.
Mercury is known to be one of the most dangerous and toxic substances on the planet."

"Many people are unaware that "silver" amalgam dental fillings are actually 50% mercury. The American Dental Association (ADA) refuses to publicly state that dental amalgam fillings contain a high level of mercury, and adamantly denies that the mercury escaping from them can cause serious health issues."

"Yet it has been proven that fillings lose their mercury content. According to Joyal Taylor, DDS, one dental researcher removed fillings that had been in a patient's mouth for five years. He also removed twenty year old fillings from another patient's mouth. He tested the percentage of mercury content if both fillings, and found that the five year old fillings had lost one half of their mercury, and the twenty year old fillings had lost all of their mercury. Fillings tend to fracture at the edges and begin to crumble away, and mercury is absorbed by the roots of the teeth as well as the surrounding bone and adjacent gum tissue."

"Every day, we do things that can increase the release of mercury vapor from amalgam fillings:
brushing our teeth, using a water pick, chewing gum, and consume hot foods and drinks can all release up to 300 parts per million of mercury colloids.
Any levels over 1 part per million can be cytotoxic to the blood and tissues."

"Removing amalgams without special precautions increases mercury blood levels for a period of time. Such a concentrated release of mercury can severely exacerbate existing neurological conditions."

"It is best to consult with your Dentist about removing your mercury filings over a 6 to 12 month period of time so the body can adequately remove this highly acidic material out through the elimination organs."

The FDA must issue the new rules in July 2009, Long said.

The lawsuit settlement was reached on Monday with several advocacy groups, including Moms Against Mercury, which had sought to have mercury fillings removed from the U.S. market.

While the FDA previously said various studies showed no harm from mercury fillings, some consumer groups contend the fillings can trigger a range of health problems such as multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer's disease.

In 2006, an FDA advisory panel of outside experts said most people would not be harmed by them, but said the agency needed more information.

Mercury has been linked to brain and kidney damage at certain levels. Amalgams contain half mercury and half a combination of other metals.

Charles Brown, a lawyer for one of the groups called Consumers for Dental Choice, said the agency's move represented an about-face. "Gone, gone, gone are all of FDA's claims that no science exists that amalgam is unsafe," he said in a statement.

J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. analyst Ipsita Smolinski said the FDA is not likely to outright ban the fillings next year but will probably call for restrictions.

"We do believe that the agency will ask for the label to indicate that mercury is an ingredient in the filling, and that special populations should be exempt from such fillings, such as:
nursing women, pregnant women, young children, and immunocompromised individuals," Smolinski wrote in a research note on Wednesday.

Dr. Young stated, "mercury filings are one of the major contributors to an acidic environment and can cause an imbalance in the alkaline design of the body leading to dis-ease of the blood and tissues."

Gum Disease Might Boost Cancer Risk

(HealthDay News) -- There may be another good reason to floss each day: A new study finds that gum disease could raise the risk for cancer.

"Men with history of periodontal disease had a 14 percent higher risk of cancer than those who did not have periodontal disease, and the increase persisted among never smokers," said lead researcher Dominique Michaud, a cancer epidemiologist at Imperial College London, in the U.K.

People with gum infections do have an increased amount of inflammatory markers circulating in their blood, and inflammation has been linked to cancer, experts say. But the exact link, if any, between gum disease and cancer remains unclear.

This new finding needs to be examined in other populations and among women, but it at least suggests that oral health may have some impact on cancer risk, Michaud said.

"If other data can support this association, then it will have implications for prevention and may provide some new clues on the role of the immune function in cancer development," Michaud said.

The report is published in the June edition of the journal The Lancet Oncology.

In the study, Michaud's team collected data on more than 48,000 American men who participated in the Health Professionals Follow-Up study, which included health professionals aged 40 to 75.

During an average of 17.7 years of follow-up, 5,720 cancer cases were reported. These cases excluded non-melanoma skin cancer and non-aggressive prostate cancer. The most common cancers reported were colorectal, melanoma, lung and bladder and advanced prostate cancer, Michaud's group found.

After taking into account other risk factors, such as smoking and diet, the researchers found that men with a history of gum disease had a 14 percent higher risk of developing cancer compared with men did not have a history of the condition.

While the overall risk was 14 percent, the risk for specific cancers was typically higher. Compared to men with healthy gums, men with a history of gum disease had a 36 percent increased risk of lung cancer, a 49 percent hike in risk of kidney cancer, a 54 percent higher risk of pancreatic cancer, and a 30 percent increased risk of white blood cell cancers.

In addition, men who had fewer teeth at the beginning of the study had a 70 percent increased risk of developing lung cancer, compared with men who had 25 to 32 teeth, Michaud's team found.

However, the association between gum disease and lung cancer disappeared among men with gum disease who had never smoked, the team noted. Men with gum disease who did not smoke still had a 35 percent increased risk for blood cancers, however, and a 21 percent overall increased risk for cancer.

One expert believes that the increased risk found in the study is too small to conclude that gum disease is a major risk factor for cancer.

"I am not very impressed with the finding," said Dr. Eva S. Schernhammer, an assistant professor, medicine and public health at Harvard Medical School and School of Public Health. "It's a really modest increased risk. I am not sure I would make too much out of it," she said.

"If this is a true association, it could be a marker of socioeconomic status, or a marker for some inflammatory process that leads to cancer," Schernhammer reasoned. "Given the small increase in risk, I'm not sure it would lead to major, dramatic changes in anything" in terms of public health policy, she said.

More information
For more on cancer risk, visit the American Cancer Society.