Showing posts with label Periodontitis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Periodontitis. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
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
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Health Tip: Take Care of Your Teeth
(HealthDay News) -- If you've been diagnosed with periodontal disease, you're not alone. Some 80 percent of American adults currently have some form of the gum disease, according to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.Our mouths are full of bacteria, which along with mucus and food particles form a sticky, colorless "plaque" on teeth. Brushing and flossing help get rid of plaque.
Plaque that is not removed can harden and form bacteria-laden "tartar." The longer plaque and tartar are on teeth, the more harmful they become. The bacteria cause inflammation of the gums, which is known as gingivitis.
When gingivitis is not treated, it can advance to periodontitis, characterized by the gums pulling away from the teeth and forming infected pockets. Bacterial toxins and the body's enzymes fighting the infection start to break down the bone and connective tissue that hold teeth in place.
If periodontitis isn't treated, the bones, gums and connective tissue that support the teeth are destroyed. At that point, the teeth may have to be removed.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Marijuana Bad for the Gums
(HealthDay News) -- Pot smokers face many of the same health consequences that tobacco users do, such as an increased risk of heart disease, but until now, it wasn't known that marijuana use could also destroy gum tissue.
In the Feb. 6 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers reported that heavy marijuana users have as much as three times the risk of developing serious gum disease compared to those who haven't smoked pot.
"We found in our study that long-term heavy [marijuana] smokers had a greater risk of gum disease by the time they reach their early 30s," said study lead author W. Murray Thomson, a professor of dental epidemiology and public health at the Sir John Walsh Research Institute at the School of Dentistry in Dunedin, New Zealand.
"The gums in a person's oral cavity before the age of 35 seem to be a pretty sensitive marker for adverse lifestyles," said Philippe Hujoel, a professor in the department of Dental Public Health Sciences at the University of Washington School of Dentistry. Hujoel wrote an accompanying editorial in the same issue of the journal.
Marijuana is the most widely used illicit drug in the United States, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Smoked like tobacco, it has many similar ill health effects. Marijuana use has been associated with increases in the risk of heart disease, head and neck cancers, problems in the lungs and infection. Marijuana has also been associated with social behavior problems, according to NIDA.
For the study, Thomson and his colleagues used data from a group of 900 New Zealanders who have been followed from birth into their early 30s. The group members have been assessed 11 different times since they were 3 years old. The researchers began asking about marijuana use at age 18, and then again at 21, 26 and 32. Dental examinations were conducted at 26 and 32 years of age, according to the study.
Thomson acknowledged that it's sometimes difficult to get people to accurately report illicit drug use. But, he's confident in this case that the use of marijuana was honestly reported, because this group has been participating in this study for so long and knows that its answers will remain confidential.
The researchers identified three marijuana "exposure" groups: No exposure, 32.3 percent; some exposure, 47.4 percent; and high exposure, 20.2 percent.
After adjusting the data to account for tobacco use, gender and a lack of dental care, the researchers found that those in the high-use group had a 60 percent increased risk of early periodontal disease, a 3.1 times greater risk of more advanced gum disease, and a 2.2 times increased risk of losing a tooth due to gum disease, compared to those who didn't use marijuana.
"We think that it is the same as with tobacco smoke: That is, the effect is not directly on the gums as smoke is inhaled. Instead, it acts through toxins being absorbed into the bloodstream via the lungs and then affecting the body's ability to heal itself after bursts of destructive inflammation in the gums," Thomson said.
The bottom line, he said, is "don't smoke, whether it's cannabis or tobacco -- it's not a rational thing to do, and it has far-reaching effects on your health."
If you're concerned about the health of your gums, Hujoel suggested that you avoid risk factors, such as smoking, and ask your dentist or periodontist what additional steps you can take to protect them. If you have early periodontal disease, he said that regular periodontal maintenance care is generally recommended, but there may be other treatments, depending on your individual periodontal health.
More information
To learn more about marijuana and its effects on the body, visit the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
In the Feb. 6 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers reported that heavy marijuana users have as much as three times the risk of developing serious gum disease compared to those who haven't smoked pot.
"We found in our study that long-term heavy [marijuana] smokers had a greater risk of gum disease by the time they reach their early 30s," said study lead author W. Murray Thomson, a professor of dental epidemiology and public health at the Sir John Walsh Research Institute at the School of Dentistry in Dunedin, New Zealand.
"The gums in a person's oral cavity before the age of 35 seem to be a pretty sensitive marker for adverse lifestyles," said Philippe Hujoel, a professor in the department of Dental Public Health Sciences at the University of Washington School of Dentistry. Hujoel wrote an accompanying editorial in the same issue of the journal.
Marijuana is the most widely used illicit drug in the United States, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Smoked like tobacco, it has many similar ill health effects. Marijuana use has been associated with increases in the risk of heart disease, head and neck cancers, problems in the lungs and infection. Marijuana has also been associated with social behavior problems, according to NIDA.
For the study, Thomson and his colleagues used data from a group of 900 New Zealanders who have been followed from birth into their early 30s. The group members have been assessed 11 different times since they were 3 years old. The researchers began asking about marijuana use at age 18, and then again at 21, 26 and 32. Dental examinations were conducted at 26 and 32 years of age, according to the study.
Thomson acknowledged that it's sometimes difficult to get people to accurately report illicit drug use. But, he's confident in this case that the use of marijuana was honestly reported, because this group has been participating in this study for so long and knows that its answers will remain confidential.
The researchers identified three marijuana "exposure" groups: No exposure, 32.3 percent; some exposure, 47.4 percent; and high exposure, 20.2 percent.
After adjusting the data to account for tobacco use, gender and a lack of dental care, the researchers found that those in the high-use group had a 60 percent increased risk of early periodontal disease, a 3.1 times greater risk of more advanced gum disease, and a 2.2 times increased risk of losing a tooth due to gum disease, compared to those who didn't use marijuana.
"We think that it is the same as with tobacco smoke: That is, the effect is not directly on the gums as smoke is inhaled. Instead, it acts through toxins being absorbed into the bloodstream via the lungs and then affecting the body's ability to heal itself after bursts of destructive inflammation in the gums," Thomson said.
The bottom line, he said, is "don't smoke, whether it's cannabis or tobacco -- it's not a rational thing to do, and it has far-reaching effects on your health."
If you're concerned about the health of your gums, Hujoel suggested that you avoid risk factors, such as smoking, and ask your dentist or periodontist what additional steps you can take to protect them. If you have early periodontal disease, he said that regular periodontal maintenance care is generally recommended, but there may be other treatments, depending on your individual periodontal health.
More information
To learn more about marijuana and its effects on the body, visit the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Obesity Weakens Immune Response
(HealthDay News) -- Obese people find it harder to fight infections, and a weakened immune response may be to blame, suggests a new study from Boston University researchers.
In experiments with mice infected with the bacteria Porphyromonas gingivalis, obese mice had less ability to battle gum infection than their normal-weight counterparts, according to the report in this week's early online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
"For years, we have had difficulty understanding why obese people have difficulty clearing an infection," said lead researcher Dr. Salomon Amar, associate dean for research at the university's School of Dental Medicine.
"Now we understand that dysfunction in some of the mechanisms, as a result of the obesity, explain difficulty in clearing the infection and also the difficulty in wound healing," Amar said.
In the study, Amar's team tied silk threads infected with the bacteria around the molars of obese and normal-weight mice. They then compared the animals' responses to infection, by measuring both the amount of bone loss and the growth of the bacteria around their teeth.
The researchers found that the obese mice had a compromised immune response to the bacteria, which made the animals more susceptible to the infection.
Amar's group also looked at the animals' white blood cells, which are the main line of defense against infection. The white cells of obese mice had lower levels of an important signaling molecule, and some of the genes that fight inflammation were altered, the researchers found.
Why obesity has this effect isn't clear, but the researchers think it may involve a signaling pathway that controls a protein called NF-kB. Alterations in this protein may be caused by constant exposure to food, Amar explained. "At some point, the body doesn't respond properly to infection," he said.
The same mechanism is at work in humans, Amar added. In fact, studies in obese people have shown they are more likely to have gum disease than non-obese people. The disease is caused by bacteria, which causes inflammation and destruction of the bone underlying teeth.
Amar thinks that obese people need to be treated differently to help them fight infections. "We need to be more aggressive in the use of targeted antibiotics in infections among obese people," he said. "Also, we need to boost the immune response."
One expert agreed the finding sheds light on the connection between obesity and infection.
"Very interesting paper," said Dr. Sara G. Grossi, a senior research scientist at the Brody School of Medicine of East Carolina University. "This is a study that needed to be done, with very interesting results and implications for both obesity and periodontal disease -- two diseases that are easier to prevent than to treat."
More information
For more about gum disease, visit the American Academy of Periodontology.
In experiments with mice infected with the bacteria Porphyromonas gingivalis, obese mice had less ability to battle gum infection than their normal-weight counterparts, according to the report in this week's early online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
"For years, we have had difficulty understanding why obese people have difficulty clearing an infection," said lead researcher Dr. Salomon Amar, associate dean for research at the university's School of Dental Medicine.
"Now we understand that dysfunction in some of the mechanisms, as a result of the obesity, explain difficulty in clearing the infection and also the difficulty in wound healing," Amar said.
In the study, Amar's team tied silk threads infected with the bacteria around the molars of obese and normal-weight mice. They then compared the animals' responses to infection, by measuring both the amount of bone loss and the growth of the bacteria around their teeth.
The researchers found that the obese mice had a compromised immune response to the bacteria, which made the animals more susceptible to the infection.
Amar's group also looked at the animals' white blood cells, which are the main line of defense against infection. The white cells of obese mice had lower levels of an important signaling molecule, and some of the genes that fight inflammation were altered, the researchers found.
Why obesity has this effect isn't clear, but the researchers think it may involve a signaling pathway that controls a protein called NF-kB. Alterations in this protein may be caused by constant exposure to food, Amar explained. "At some point, the body doesn't respond properly to infection," he said.
The same mechanism is at work in humans, Amar added. In fact, studies in obese people have shown they are more likely to have gum disease than non-obese people. The disease is caused by bacteria, which causes inflammation and destruction of the bone underlying teeth.
Amar thinks that obese people need to be treated differently to help them fight infections. "We need to be more aggressive in the use of targeted antibiotics in infections among obese people," he said. "Also, we need to boost the immune response."
One expert agreed the finding sheds light on the connection between obesity and infection.
"Very interesting paper," said Dr. Sara G. Grossi, a senior research scientist at the Brody School of Medicine of East Carolina University. "This is a study that needed to be done, with very interesting results and implications for both obesity and periodontal disease -- two diseases that are easier to prevent than to treat."
More information
For more about gum disease, visit the American Academy of Periodontology.
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Friday, October 19, 2007
Tooth Troubles Could Raise Dementia Risk
(HealthDay News) -- Tooth loss and mouth illnesses may boost the risk of dementia later in life, U.S. research shows.
A team at the University of Kentucky analyzed the dental records and annual cognitive test results of 144 participants, ages 75 to 98, in the Nun Study, an examination of aging and Alzheimer's disease among sisters of the School Sisters of Notre Dame.
Of participants "who did not have dementia at the first examination (of annual exams over a 12-year period), those with few teeth -- zero to nine -- had an increased risk of developing dementia during the study, compared with those who had 10 or more teeth," the study authors wrote in the October issue of the Journal of the American Dental Association.
The team offered several possible reasons for this association, including periodontal disease, early-life nutritional deficiencies, and infections or chronic diseases that may result simultaneously in tooth loss and brain damage.
Further research is needed to confirm whether there is a direct link between tooth loss and increased risk of dementia, the researchers said.
"It is not clear from our findings whether the association is causal or casual," they wrote.
More information
The U.S. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke has more about dementia.
A team at the University of Kentucky analyzed the dental records and annual cognitive test results of 144 participants, ages 75 to 98, in the Nun Study, an examination of aging and Alzheimer's disease among sisters of the School Sisters of Notre Dame.
Of participants "who did not have dementia at the first examination (of annual exams over a 12-year period), those with few teeth -- zero to nine -- had an increased risk of developing dementia during the study, compared with those who had 10 or more teeth," the study authors wrote in the October issue of the Journal of the American Dental Association.
The team offered several possible reasons for this association, including periodontal disease, early-life nutritional deficiencies, and infections or chronic diseases that may result simultaneously in tooth loss and brain damage.
Further research is needed to confirm whether there is a direct link between tooth loss and increased risk of dementia, the researchers said.
"It is not clear from our findings whether the association is causal or casual," they wrote.
More information
The U.S. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke has more about dementia.
Saturday, June 02, 2007
Smoking, Sleeplessness Tough on Oral Health
(HealthDay News) -- Sleepless smokers are at greatest risk for poor oral health, according to a Japanese study looking at the risk factors for gum disease.
The researchers tracked 219 factory workers from 1999 to 2003. The workers were evaluated on the following lifestyle factors: exercise, alcohol consumption, smoking, hours of sleep, nutrition, stress, hours worked, and eating breakfast.
Smoking was found to be the leading factor independently associated with the progression of periodontal (gum) disease, according to the report, which is published in the May issue of the Journal of Periodontology. More than 41 percent of the workers with progressive periodontal disease were smokers, the researchers found.
A lack of sleep was the second most important factor. Workers who got seven to eight hours of sleep per night had less periodontal disease progression than those who slept six hours or less per night.
Lead author Dr. Muneo Tanaka said that suggests a "shortage of sleep can impair the body's immune response which may lead to the progression of diseases such as periodontal disease."
High stress levels and daily alcohol consumption also had a significant impact on periodontal disease progression, the study found.
"This study points out to patients that there are lifestyle factors other than brushing and flossing that may affect their oral health. Simple lifestyle changes, such as getting more sleep, may help patients improve or protect their oral health," Preston D. Miller Jr., president of the American Academy of Periodontology, said in a prepared statement.
More information
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has more about preventing gum disease.
The researchers tracked 219 factory workers from 1999 to 2003. The workers were evaluated on the following lifestyle factors: exercise, alcohol consumption, smoking, hours of sleep, nutrition, stress, hours worked, and eating breakfast.
Smoking was found to be the leading factor independently associated with the progression of periodontal (gum) disease, according to the report, which is published in the May issue of the Journal of Periodontology. More than 41 percent of the workers with progressive periodontal disease were smokers, the researchers found.
A lack of sleep was the second most important factor. Workers who got seven to eight hours of sleep per night had less periodontal disease progression than those who slept six hours or less per night.
Lead author Dr. Muneo Tanaka said that suggests a "shortage of sleep can impair the body's immune response which may lead to the progression of diseases such as periodontal disease."
High stress levels and daily alcohol consumption also had a significant impact on periodontal disease progression, the study found.
"This study points out to patients that there are lifestyle factors other than brushing and flossing that may affect their oral health. Simple lifestyle changes, such as getting more sleep, may help patients improve or protect their oral health," Preston D. Miller Jr., president of the American Academy of Periodontology, said in a prepared statement.
More information
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has more about preventing gum disease.
Monday, April 30, 2007
Despite Dentists' Urging, Many Don't Take Proper Care of Teeth
(HealthDay News) -- There's limited evidence that so-called behavior management techniques help dentists convince patients to brush and floss their teeth properly.
That's the conclusion of British researchers who reviewed four previous studies that included a total of 344 people with periodontal (gum) disease.
In one study, patients attended five 90-minute groups sessions about proper care of their teeth and gums, while two other studies required patients to meet with psychologists to discuss periodontal care. In the fourth study, patients called or visited a periodontist twice a week.
The review authors noted that there were flaws in how these studies were conducted, which made it difficult to draw any firm conclusions.
"We need better-quality trials assessing the effects of psychological interventions to improve people's oral health. I also think we need broader research on the benefits of the application of psychological theory to dentistry, as I believe it has a great deal to offer," review co-author Dr. Peter Robinson, professor of dental public health at the University of Sheffield in England, said in a prepared statement.
"Dentistry has worked really hard at trying to educate patients to get them to change behaviors, but we have been a bit old-fashioned. We have tended to think that if we give people information, their attitudes and behaviors should change. In fact, people can change a little, but those new behaviors are difficult to sustain. We have a lot to learn from psychologists and other experts in the field if we really want to help people," Robinson said.
The findings are in the journal The Cochrane Library, published by The Cochrane Collaboration, an international organization that evaluates medical research.
More information
The American Dental Association has more about oral hygiene.
That's the conclusion of British researchers who reviewed four previous studies that included a total of 344 people with periodontal (gum) disease.
In one study, patients attended five 90-minute groups sessions about proper care of their teeth and gums, while two other studies required patients to meet with psychologists to discuss periodontal care. In the fourth study, patients called or visited a periodontist twice a week.
The review authors noted that there were flaws in how these studies were conducted, which made it difficult to draw any firm conclusions.
"We need better-quality trials assessing the effects of psychological interventions to improve people's oral health. I also think we need broader research on the benefits of the application of psychological theory to dentistry, as I believe it has a great deal to offer," review co-author Dr. Peter Robinson, professor of dental public health at the University of Sheffield in England, said in a prepared statement.
"Dentistry has worked really hard at trying to educate patients to get them to change behaviors, but we have been a bit old-fashioned. We have tended to think that if we give people information, their attitudes and behaviors should change. In fact, people can change a little, but those new behaviors are difficult to sustain. We have a lot to learn from psychologists and other experts in the field if we really want to help people," Robinson said.
The findings are in the journal The Cochrane Library, published by The Cochrane Collaboration, an international organization that evaluates medical research.
More information
The American Dental Association has more about oral hygiene.
Saturday, December 09, 2006
Gum Disease Doesn't Affect Birth Outcomes
(HealthDay News) -- The health of an expectant mom's gums does not affect her odds for premature delivery or delivering a low-birth-weight baby, a new study suggests.
The finding runs counter to previous studies that have suggested that the inflammation associated with periodontal (gum) disease may be a factor in "preemie" deliveries.
"Periodontal therapy delivered between 13 and 21 weeks [of pregnancy] is safe and effective, but there's no evidence that it affects birth outcomes," said the study's lead author, Dr. Bryan Michalowicz, an associated professor in the department of developmental and surgical sciences at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.
His team published its findings in the Nov. 2 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
More than one in 10 infants in the United States is born prematurely, according to background information in the study. Babies born prematurely or at low birth weight are at increased risk of death, neurological problems, cognitive difficulties and behavioral disorders.
Since previous studies have linked prematurity to periodontal disease, Michalowicz and his colleagues wanted to learn if treating the diseased gums of pregnant women could affect the outcome of their pregnancies.
To answer that question, they recruited 823 pregnant women diagnosed with periodontal disease.
Between 13 and 21 weeks gestation, 413 of the study volunteers underwent treatment for gum disease. This treatment is known as scaling and root planing. For this procedure, periodontists remove plaque from underneath the gum line down to the roots of the teeth.
The remaining 410 women received no treatment.
Treating periodontal disease in these pregnant women caused no serious adverse reactions. However, the treatment did not appear to help with either prematurity or low birth weight.
Twelve percent of the women in the treatment group delivered prematurely vs. 12.8 percent of the women in the control group -- not a statistically significant difference, according to the researchers. The number of babies born small for their gestational age didn't differ greatly either -- 12.7 percent for the treatment group vs. 12.3 percent for the control group.
Dr. Robert Goldenberg, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Drexel University in Philadelphia, said he still believes periodontal disease plays some role in prematurity because it starts an inflammatory process. However, he added that prematurity is a complex problem that likely has many causes.
"All the current study says is that a single-bullet approach [treating gum disease] doesn't seem to work," said Goldenberg, who also co-authored an accompanying editorial in the same issue of the journal.
"You have to look at all of the risk factors, not just one, and reduce as many as possible," Goldenberg said. He advised women who were pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant to treat periodontal disease, stop smoking, treat any existing vaginal infections and to reduce stress as much as possible, to help increase the odds of having a full-term baby.
He also noted that the timing of the treatment in this study may have affected the outcome and that treatment of gum disease prior to pregnancy might have more of an effect on birth outcomes.
"Women should have routine dental care all the time. One of the things this study did show is that even scaling and root planing don't seem to have any safety issues associated with it.
There's no reason not to get appropriate dental care during pregnancy; it's just not likely to reduce prematurity," concluded Goldenberg.
More information
To learn more about periodontal disease, visit the American Academy of Periodontology.
The finding runs counter to previous studies that have suggested that the inflammation associated with periodontal (gum) disease may be a factor in "preemie" deliveries.
"Periodontal therapy delivered between 13 and 21 weeks [of pregnancy] is safe and effective, but there's no evidence that it affects birth outcomes," said the study's lead author, Dr. Bryan Michalowicz, an associated professor in the department of developmental and surgical sciences at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.
His team published its findings in the Nov. 2 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
More than one in 10 infants in the United States is born prematurely, according to background information in the study. Babies born prematurely or at low birth weight are at increased risk of death, neurological problems, cognitive difficulties and behavioral disorders.
Since previous studies have linked prematurity to periodontal disease, Michalowicz and his colleagues wanted to learn if treating the diseased gums of pregnant women could affect the outcome of their pregnancies.
To answer that question, they recruited 823 pregnant women diagnosed with periodontal disease.
Between 13 and 21 weeks gestation, 413 of the study volunteers underwent treatment for gum disease. This treatment is known as scaling and root planing. For this procedure, periodontists remove plaque from underneath the gum line down to the roots of the teeth.
The remaining 410 women received no treatment.
Treating periodontal disease in these pregnant women caused no serious adverse reactions. However, the treatment did not appear to help with either prematurity or low birth weight.
Twelve percent of the women in the treatment group delivered prematurely vs. 12.8 percent of the women in the control group -- not a statistically significant difference, according to the researchers. The number of babies born small for their gestational age didn't differ greatly either -- 12.7 percent for the treatment group vs. 12.3 percent for the control group.
Dr. Robert Goldenberg, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Drexel University in Philadelphia, said he still believes periodontal disease plays some role in prematurity because it starts an inflammatory process. However, he added that prematurity is a complex problem that likely has many causes.
"All the current study says is that a single-bullet approach [treating gum disease] doesn't seem to work," said Goldenberg, who also co-authored an accompanying editorial in the same issue of the journal.
"You have to look at all of the risk factors, not just one, and reduce as many as possible," Goldenberg said. He advised women who were pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant to treat periodontal disease, stop smoking, treat any existing vaginal infections and to reduce stress as much as possible, to help increase the odds of having a full-term baby.
He also noted that the timing of the treatment in this study may have affected the outcome and that treatment of gum disease prior to pregnancy might have more of an effect on birth outcomes.
"Women should have routine dental care all the time. One of the things this study did show is that even scaling and root planing don't seem to have any safety issues associated with it.
There's no reason not to get appropriate dental care during pregnancy; it's just not likely to reduce prematurity," concluded Goldenberg.
More information
To learn more about periodontal disease, visit the American Academy of Periodontology.
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
Health Tip: My Dentist Wants Me to Take an Antibiotic
(HealthDay News) -- Our mouths are full of bacteria. Combined with mucus, they cause a sticky plaque to form on our teeth.Brushing and flossing can remove some of this plaque, according to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. But what remains can harden and form tartar, which brushing probably won't remove.
The longer plaque and tartar are on the teeth, the more harmful they become. The bacteria can cause the gums to bleed and swell -- a condition called "gingivitis."
If gingivitis is not treated, it can lead to periodontal disease, causing pockets of infection and the gums to pull away from the teeth. This can lead to tooth loss.
An antibiotic gel can ward off the infection and help save your pearly whites.
Sunday, September 17, 2006
Simple Steps Bring Sweeter Breath
(HealthDay News) -- Some simple measures can help put a muzzle on bad breath, according to an article in the June issue of the Mayo Clinic Health Letter.Bad breath can be caused by food particles in the mouth, dry mouth, or a health problem. Mayo experts offer these tips to help prevent it:
· Brush your teeth or use mouthwash after you eat. Brushing is the more effective of the two. If you use mouthwash, make sure you swish it around in your mouth for 30 seconds before you spit it out.
· Floss your teeth at least once a day in order to remove decaying food.
· When brushing your teeth, brush the back of your tongue, too, or scrape it with a tongue scraper, available at pharmacies.
· Drink water to keep your mouth moist. When your mouth gets dry, there isn't enough saliva to wash away dead cells. You can also chew sugarless gum or suck on sugarless hard candy to help stimulate saliva production.
· Don't eat foods -- such as onions and garlic -- that encourage bad breath. These foods contain oils that are transferred to the lungs and exhaled.
· If you have dentures, clean them daily to get rid of food particles and bacteria.
· If these simple measures don't improve your bad breath, see your doctor or dentist. Persistent bad breath may be a sign of periodontal disease, an abscessed tooth, infection, chronic sinusitis, postnasal drip, chronic bronchitis, certain kinds of esophageal problems, and other health conditions.
More information
The American Dental Association has more about bad breath.
Gum Implants Could Treat Periodontal Disease
(HealthDay News) -- Researchers are exploring a promising treatment for severe periodontal disease in which a biodegradable gum implant slowly releases medicines that fight infection.
Word of the new procedure -- designed to be less invasive and more effective then current surgical treatments -- came Thursday at the American Chemical Society's annual meeting in San Francisco.
"I'm extraordinarily confident that this technology will work," said study co-author Kathryn E. Uhrich, a professor of chemistry and chemical biology at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.
Although animal and human trials have yet to begin, Uhrich said that the laboratory work already conducted with co-author Michelle L. Johnson -- one of Uhrich's graduate students -- indicates that the plastic implant appears to be both effective and safe.
"We're using antibiotic anti-bacterial properties, which everyone already knows about, alongside aspirin-like, anti-inflammatory properties, which everyone also already knows about," she explained. "So it's pretty easy to make, and I see no real significant technical obstacles."
"What's unique here, however, is our plan to treat periodontal disease by combining these properties with a polymer -- or plastic -- implant structure that enables delivery of the drugs with minimal invasiveness," she added.
According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, approximately 80 percent of men and women have gum disease of one kind or another.
The authors note that between 8 percent and 12 percent of Americans have an advanced stage of periodontal disease, requiring invasive interventions such as surgery to prevent tooth loss.
Periodontal disease -- literally meaning disease from "around the tooth" -- is a chronic bacterial infection of the gums and bones surrounding the teeth. The disease originates in the bacteria-laden plaque, which routinely forms a sticky film on tooth surfaces.
Poor hygienic habits, poor nutrition, stress, smoking, diabetes, genetic predisposition and certain medications can raise the risk for developing gum disease.
In its less serious stages, the condition can provoke relatively painless gum swelling and bleeding. However, if left untreated gum tissue and bone can literally disintegrate over an extended period of time.
Treatment for advanced gum disease traditionally begins with a dentist removing infected organisms lodged deep in the pockets that develop between teeth and gums -- a process known as "deep scaling."
The elimination of remaining bacteria is sometimes further aided by the placement of topical anti-microbials in the cleaned-out pockets.
If significant bone loss has occurred, the current standard for the second phase of treatment involves the surgical implantation of barrier materials -- such as Teflon -- to separate the gum from the bone and teeth and promote bone regeneration and tissue healing. The barrier is then surgically removed after approximately six weeks.
According to Uhrich, the proposed new procedure would cut the need for invasive surgery in half by relying on an implant that would release both anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory medications over a prescribed time. Meanwhile, the barrier itself slowly disintegrates.
The researchers say patients benefit because the barrier doesn't have to be removed with surgery, and gum tissues are healed with the use of salicylic acid -- the active anti-inflammatory ingredient found in aspirin.
"This is absolutely a unique process, " said Uhrich. "There's nothing out there like this right now."
Uhrich said the procedure could be available to patients in as little as two years, depending on U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval following animal and human trials. Primate trials are already being set up.
However, Robert Genco, a distinguished professor of oral biology, periodontology, and microbiology in the school of dental medicine at the State University of New York at Buffalo, had some reservations about the procedure.
"The proof in the pudding is going to be the human trials," he said. "It might be a useful adjunct treatment to the deep-scaling needed to remove tenaciously attached bacteria," he said. "But there is also a possible negative aspect in that the anti-inflammatory impact of this procedure could theoretically reduce the body's ability to cope with the infection by undermining the body's ability to get rid of the most difficult-to-remove bacteria. It's not been shown for sure that this would be a problem, but it's something that would have to be dealt with."
More information
For additional information on gum disease, visit the American Academy of Periodontology.
Word of the new procedure -- designed to be less invasive and more effective then current surgical treatments -- came Thursday at the American Chemical Society's annual meeting in San Francisco.
"I'm extraordinarily confident that this technology will work," said study co-author Kathryn E. Uhrich, a professor of chemistry and chemical biology at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.
Although animal and human trials have yet to begin, Uhrich said that the laboratory work already conducted with co-author Michelle L. Johnson -- one of Uhrich's graduate students -- indicates that the plastic implant appears to be both effective and safe.
"We're using antibiotic anti-bacterial properties, which everyone already knows about, alongside aspirin-like, anti-inflammatory properties, which everyone also already knows about," she explained. "So it's pretty easy to make, and I see no real significant technical obstacles."
"What's unique here, however, is our plan to treat periodontal disease by combining these properties with a polymer -- or plastic -- implant structure that enables delivery of the drugs with minimal invasiveness," she added.
According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, approximately 80 percent of men and women have gum disease of one kind or another.
The authors note that between 8 percent and 12 percent of Americans have an advanced stage of periodontal disease, requiring invasive interventions such as surgery to prevent tooth loss.
Periodontal disease -- literally meaning disease from "around the tooth" -- is a chronic bacterial infection of the gums and bones surrounding the teeth. The disease originates in the bacteria-laden plaque, which routinely forms a sticky film on tooth surfaces.
Poor hygienic habits, poor nutrition, stress, smoking, diabetes, genetic predisposition and certain medications can raise the risk for developing gum disease.
In its less serious stages, the condition can provoke relatively painless gum swelling and bleeding. However, if left untreated gum tissue and bone can literally disintegrate over an extended period of time.
Treatment for advanced gum disease traditionally begins with a dentist removing infected organisms lodged deep in the pockets that develop between teeth and gums -- a process known as "deep scaling."
The elimination of remaining bacteria is sometimes further aided by the placement of topical anti-microbials in the cleaned-out pockets.
If significant bone loss has occurred, the current standard for the second phase of treatment involves the surgical implantation of barrier materials -- such as Teflon -- to separate the gum from the bone and teeth and promote bone regeneration and tissue healing. The barrier is then surgically removed after approximately six weeks.
According to Uhrich, the proposed new procedure would cut the need for invasive surgery in half by relying on an implant that would release both anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory medications over a prescribed time. Meanwhile, the barrier itself slowly disintegrates.
The researchers say patients benefit because the barrier doesn't have to be removed with surgery, and gum tissues are healed with the use of salicylic acid -- the active anti-inflammatory ingredient found in aspirin.
"This is absolutely a unique process, " said Uhrich. "There's nothing out there like this right now."
Uhrich said the procedure could be available to patients in as little as two years, depending on U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval following animal and human trials. Primate trials are already being set up.
However, Robert Genco, a distinguished professor of oral biology, periodontology, and microbiology in the school of dental medicine at the State University of New York at Buffalo, had some reservations about the procedure.
"The proof in the pudding is going to be the human trials," he said. "It might be a useful adjunct treatment to the deep-scaling needed to remove tenaciously attached bacteria," he said. "But there is also a possible negative aspect in that the anti-inflammatory impact of this procedure could theoretically reduce the body's ability to cope with the infection by undermining the body's ability to get rid of the most difficult-to-remove bacteria. It's not been shown for sure that this would be a problem, but it's something that would have to be dealt with."
More information
For additional information on gum disease, visit the American Academy of Periodontology.
Thursday, September 14, 2006
Flossing a Quick Fix for Gum Disease, Bad Breath
(HealthDay News) -- Just two weeks of flossing, added to regular tooth brushing, can significantly reduce bleeding gums and bad breath, a U.S. study finds.The study included 51 sets of twins, aged 12 to 21, divided into two groups. One group brushed their teeth and tongue twice a day, while the other group did the same, along with flossing twice a day.
After two weeks, the group that brushed and flossed had a 38 percent reduction in gingival bleeding and also had less halitosis (bad breath). In contrast, participants who just brushed experienced a 4 percent increase in gingival bleeding.
The study was published in the current issue of the Journal of Periodontology.
"Gingival bleeding and halitosis is often the first sign of poor oral hygiene that may eventually lead to further periodontal problems. A good way to prevent periodontal disease and tooth decay is through at-home oral hygiene care and routine dental visits," study mentor Walter Bretz, of the department of Cariology and Comprehensive Care, New York University College of Dentistry, said in a prepared statement.
More information
The American Dental Association has more about oral hygiene.
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Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Diabetes Can Harm Young Children's Gums
(HealthDay News) -- Diabetes' links to gum disease are well-known, but a new study shows it can trigger periodontal problems in children as young as 6.
Prior to this study, experts believed the destruction of gums in people with diabetes started at a much later age, and then increased as they grew older.
In the study, researchers at Columbia University Medical Center in New York City assessed dental cavities and periodontal disease in 182 children and adolescents (aged 6 to 18) with diabetes, and in 160 young people without diabetes.
Reporting in the February issue of Diabetes Care, the team found that youngsters with diabetes had much more dental plaque and gingival inflammation than those without diabetes.
Early signs of gum disease were found in nearly 60 percent of the 6- to 11-year-old children with diabetes, compared to about 30 percent of nondiabetic children in the same age group. Nearly 80 percent of the 12-to-18-year-olds had early signs of gum disease.
"Our research illustrates that programs to prevent and treat periodontal disease should be considered a standard of care for young patients with diabetes," principal investigator Ira B. Lamster, dean of the College of Dental Medicine, said in a prepared statement.
"Other studies have shown that patients with diabetes are significantly less likely than those without diabetes to have seen a dentist within the past year," study co-author Dr. Robin Goland, co-director of the Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center, said in a prepared statement.
"This was due to a perceived lack of need, so clearly it's important that physicians and dentists and their patients with diabetes learn that they need to focus extra attention on oral health," Goland said.
This study is ongoing, and will eventually include 700 volunteers.
More information
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has more about gum disease.
Prior to this study, experts believed the destruction of gums in people with diabetes started at a much later age, and then increased as they grew older.
In the study, researchers at Columbia University Medical Center in New York City assessed dental cavities and periodontal disease in 182 children and adolescents (aged 6 to 18) with diabetes, and in 160 young people without diabetes.
Reporting in the February issue of Diabetes Care, the team found that youngsters with diabetes had much more dental plaque and gingival inflammation than those without diabetes.
Early signs of gum disease were found in nearly 60 percent of the 6- to 11-year-old children with diabetes, compared to about 30 percent of nondiabetic children in the same age group. Nearly 80 percent of the 12-to-18-year-olds had early signs of gum disease.
"Our research illustrates that programs to prevent and treat periodontal disease should be considered a standard of care for young patients with diabetes," principal investigator Ira B. Lamster, dean of the College of Dental Medicine, said in a prepared statement.
"Other studies have shown that patients with diabetes are significantly less likely than those without diabetes to have seen a dentist within the past year," study co-author Dr. Robin Goland, co-director of the Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center, said in a prepared statement.
"This was due to a perceived lack of need, so clearly it's important that physicians and dentists and their patients with diabetes learn that they need to focus extra attention on oral health," Goland said.
This study is ongoing, and will eventually include 700 volunteers.
More information
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has more about gum disease.
Poor Mood May Mean Missed Check-ups
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(HealthDay News) -- Feeling anxious or depressed can block elderly people from going for routine check-ups and other preventive care, a new study suggests.
The finding highlights the need for doctors to screen older patients to determine if they may be suffering psychological distress, the researchers said.
"We must screen for and treat psychological distress because it can translate into better physical health," study leader Joshua Thorpe, assistant research professor in the School of Nursing and senior fellow in the Duke University Center for Aging, said in a prepared statement.
His team analyzed data from about 3,700 people age 65 and older and found those with poor emotional health were 30 percent less likely to receive an annual flu shot; 23 percent less likely to have an annual dental check-up; and that distressed older women were 27 percent less likely to undergo a clinical breast examination.
"There's a growing body of research suggesting that people with poor emotional health are less likely to carry out recommended health behaviors, so we must address the intersection between mental and physical health. If we don't, people might not take their medications or get recommended health-care services," Thorpe said.
"A flu shot is cheap and effective and it prevents the need for secondary care. Without it, pneumonia is a bigger possibility," he noted. "Patients who don't receive regular dental check-ups are also prone to suffer from periodontitis and other dental diseases."
Previous research found that doctors screen for psychological distress in only 14 percent of primary-care visits by elderly patients. Rates of depression among the elderly range from 10 percent to 50 percent, depending on their health, activity level, and living situation, according to the Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing.
The Duke study appears in the February issue of the journal Medical Care.
More information
The American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry has more about seniors and depression.
(HealthDay News) -- Feeling anxious or depressed can block elderly people from going for routine check-ups and other preventive care, a new study suggests.The finding highlights the need for doctors to screen older patients to determine if they may be suffering psychological distress, the researchers said.
"We must screen for and treat psychological distress because it can translate into better physical health," study leader Joshua Thorpe, assistant research professor in the School of Nursing and senior fellow in the Duke University Center for Aging, said in a prepared statement.
His team analyzed data from about 3,700 people age 65 and older and found those with poor emotional health were 30 percent less likely to receive an annual flu shot; 23 percent less likely to have an annual dental check-up; and that distressed older women were 27 percent less likely to undergo a clinical breast examination.
"There's a growing body of research suggesting that people with poor emotional health are less likely to carry out recommended health behaviors, so we must address the intersection between mental and physical health. If we don't, people might not take their medications or get recommended health-care services," Thorpe said.
"A flu shot is cheap and effective and it prevents the need for secondary care. Without it, pneumonia is a bigger possibility," he noted. "Patients who don't receive regular dental check-ups are also prone to suffer from periodontitis and other dental diseases."
Previous research found that doctors screen for psychological distress in only 14 percent of primary-care visits by elderly patients. Rates of depression among the elderly range from 10 percent to 50 percent, depending on their health, activity level, and living situation, according to the Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing.
The Duke study appears in the February issue of the journal Medical Care.
More information
The American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry has more about seniors and depression.
Friday, September 01, 2006
Red Wine May Ward Off Gum Disease
(HealthDay News) -- Raising a glass to a new weapon against periodontal disease, researchers say red wine may help keep gums healthy and strong.Though the results have so far only been borne out in the test tube, a team of Canadian scientists believe antioxidant components in red wine and grape seeds have anti-inflammatory effects that may ward off periodontal troubles.
"Our findings demonstrate that red wine polyphenols have potent antioxidant properties," conclude researchers led by Dr. Fatiah Chandad from the Universite Laval in Quebec City. Her team presented its findings Friday at the American Association for Dental Research (AADR) annual meeting, in Orlando.
Experts believe that upwards of 80 percent of Americans are estimated to have some form of gum disease, either in the relatively mild form known as gingivitis or in a more serious form, known as periodontitis. Periodontitis (meaning "around the tooth") is linked to poor oral hygiene. It is a chronic infection involving bacteria present in plaque that persistently coats teeth.
"I am optimistic that components in red wine can limit the effect of this oral bacteria," Chandad said.
According to the AADR, approximately 15 percent of Americans between the ages of 21 and 50 suffer from this harshest form of gum disease. Among adults over the age of 50, 65 percent are affected.
Smokers, diabetics and those taking steroids, oral contraceptives and certain cancer drugs are a higher risk for developing periodontitis, often in the absence of any obvious warning signs.
And gum disease's effect may extend beyond the mouth: Recent research has indicated that the inflammation and immune responses which accompany serious gum infection may also provoke an increased risk for diabetes, heart disease and birthing abnormalities among periodontal patients.
However, the Quebec researchers say laboratory tests conducted on mouse cell samples revealed that antioxidants found in red wine known as polyphenols may help limit the severity of bacteria-linked gum inflammation.
They note that inflammation is the immune system's natural response to the presence of such bacteria, Unfortunately, that response also involves the accelerated production of unhealthy molecules called "free radicals."
The production of too many free radicals can lead to a further weakening of gums. The result is inflammation, bleeding, and a gradual tissue and bone decay that can ultimately result in the loss of one or more affected teeth.
But Houde and her colleagues found that -- in the test tube, at least -- red wine polyphenols inhibit key proteins at the cellular level to slow free radical production. They speculate that red wine's antioxidant punch could be a useful weapon in the fight against gum disease.
Not everyone is ready to gulp down a glass of Cabernet to fight gum disease, however. Robert Genco, a distinguished professor of oral biology with the School of Dental Medicine at the State University of New York at Buffalo, stressed the findings are very preliminary.
"I would say that in general these experiments with antioxidants in test tubes give variable results when they are later tested in animals or humans," Genco noted.
He pointed to recent studies that found that the consumption of popular antioxidants such as vitamin E, vitamin C and beta carotene does not appear to provide the health benefits that had been anticipated by the medical community.
"Many antioxidants have been tested in humans, and they have not been too effective," Genco stressed. "We've been very disappointed, so we have to be very careful. So, while this study is an interesting first start, the key now is clinical trials in humans."
Chandad agreed that further studies are needed, but said she's optimistic that these early results will be replicated in animals and humans. Her team has already begun such work, she said -- first with animals, then soon after with human trials.
More information
For more on periodontal disease, visit the
Anti-Inflammatory Drug Might Ease Gum Disease
(HealthDay News) -- In tests on rabbits, a byproduct of omega-3 fatty acids helped protect the animals from the unhealthy effects of gum disease.Boston University researchers say topical application of the eicosapentanoic acid-derived Resolvin E1 (RvE1) helped prevent soft tissue inflammation and destruction, as well as bone loss associated with periodontal disease.
The team was to present the findings Friday at the annual meeting of the American Association for Dental Research in Orlando.
The finding suggest that inflammation may be a good target in the treatment of gum disease, the researchers said.
Resolvins are a new family of biologically active products of omega-3 fatty acids and natural regulators of the inflammatory process.
The Boston group pointed out that gum disease is similar to other chronic inflammatory diseases, such as arthritis, where inflammation causes tissue damage.
Currently, oral hygiene and regular dental care are used to control plaque and prevent gum disease. However, plaque control may not be enough to prevent gum disease in susceptible people with a high inflammatory response, according to the study authors.
More information
The American Dental Association offers advice about oral hygiene.
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Got Gum Trouble? Your Heart Might Be Next
(HealthDay News) -- There's mounting evidence that brushing, flossing and regular dental checkups may be at the heart of good cardiovascular health.
"People who have chronic infections -- and gum disease is one of the major chronic infections -- are at increased risk later in life for atherosclerosis [hardening of the arteries] and coronary heart disease," said American Heart Association spokesman Dr. Richard Stein, who is also director of preventive cardiology at Beth Israel Medical Center, in New York City.
Stein said he regularly counsels patients worried about their risk for heart attack or stroke to incorporate good periodontal care in their preventive strategies, just as they would include exercise, healthy diets and appropriate medications.
The reason: Chronic periodontal disease -- which is caused by a number of oral bacteria -- appears to set off an inflammatory process that exacerbates and contributes to the build-up of cholesterol-rich plaque on artery walls.
"The presence of a chronic infection in the mouth is very similar to a chronic infection anywhere else in the body, in that it puts stress on our body's response system," explained Dr. Ronald Inge, associate executive director of the division of dental practice at the American Dental Association in Chicago. "The way the body responds [to that stress] is by sending different elements through the bloodstream, and these elements create the plaque."
In fact, one study published earlier this year in the journal Circulation found that patients with high levels of gum disease bacteria were also at high risk for atherosclerosis.
"This demonstrates that the [health of] the mouth isn't isolated from the rest of the body," Inge said.
According to Stein, experts have known about the periodontal-cardiovascular link for about a decade. "It's become a bigger problem in general because we're having fewer cavities due to fluoride and we're living longer," he said. "So, more and more, what's making us lose our teeth is periodontal disease."
But there's lots you can do to keep bacteria from setting up house in your gums. Some tips, according to Inge:
· Get checked. A thorough oral exam will allow a dentist to detect and diagnosis gum disease, gauge its severity, and order appropriate treatment. Treatments include bacterial removal via scaling and root-planing, and the use of antibiotics.
· Brush and floss regularly. The more frequently food is kept away from teeth, the better, since regular cleaning robs oral bacteria of the nutrients they crave.
· Don't snack. Every snack delivers a fresh meal to germs that are hard at work destroying teeth and gums. If snacking is unavoidable, Inge recommends less-sticky foods that won't adhere to tooth structure.
Stein noted that there's one group of adults that may not have to worry about periodontal troubles: those with dentures. "In order to have an infection of your gums, you need to have teeth," he said.
Most Americans would rather keep their teeth, however -- and keep their hearts and arteries healthy. According to Stein, good oral health care may help accomplish both goals.
"Taking care of your teeth is part of general good health and quality of life," he said, "and it may also have a protective role for your heart."
More information
For more on preventing periodontal disease, visit the American Dental Association.
"People who have chronic infections -- and gum disease is one of the major chronic infections -- are at increased risk later in life for atherosclerosis [hardening of the arteries] and coronary heart disease," said American Heart Association spokesman Dr. Richard Stein, who is also director of preventive cardiology at Beth Israel Medical Center, in New York City.
Stein said he regularly counsels patients worried about their risk for heart attack or stroke to incorporate good periodontal care in their preventive strategies, just as they would include exercise, healthy diets and appropriate medications.
The reason: Chronic periodontal disease -- which is caused by a number of oral bacteria -- appears to set off an inflammatory process that exacerbates and contributes to the build-up of cholesterol-rich plaque on artery walls.
"The presence of a chronic infection in the mouth is very similar to a chronic infection anywhere else in the body, in that it puts stress on our body's response system," explained Dr. Ronald Inge, associate executive director of the division of dental practice at the American Dental Association in Chicago. "The way the body responds [to that stress] is by sending different elements through the bloodstream, and these elements create the plaque."
In fact, one study published earlier this year in the journal Circulation found that patients with high levels of gum disease bacteria were also at high risk for atherosclerosis.
"This demonstrates that the [health of] the mouth isn't isolated from the rest of the body," Inge said.
According to Stein, experts have known about the periodontal-cardiovascular link for about a decade. "It's become a bigger problem in general because we're having fewer cavities due to fluoride and we're living longer," he said. "So, more and more, what's making us lose our teeth is periodontal disease."
But there's lots you can do to keep bacteria from setting up house in your gums. Some tips, according to Inge:
· Get checked. A thorough oral exam will allow a dentist to detect and diagnosis gum disease, gauge its severity, and order appropriate treatment. Treatments include bacterial removal via scaling and root-planing, and the use of antibiotics.
· Brush and floss regularly. The more frequently food is kept away from teeth, the better, since regular cleaning robs oral bacteria of the nutrients they crave.
· Don't snack. Every snack delivers a fresh meal to germs that are hard at work destroying teeth and gums. If snacking is unavoidable, Inge recommends less-sticky foods that won't adhere to tooth structure.
Stein noted that there's one group of adults that may not have to worry about periodontal troubles: those with dentures. "In order to have an infection of your gums, you need to have teeth," he said.
Most Americans would rather keep their teeth, however -- and keep their hearts and arteries healthy. According to Stein, good oral health care may help accomplish both goals.
"Taking care of your teeth is part of general good health and quality of life," he said, "and it may also have a protective role for your heart."
More information
For more on preventing periodontal disease, visit the American Dental Association.
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Health Tip: Prevent Periodontitis
(HealthDay News) -- Periodontitis is a gum disease in which plaque, a bacteria-ridden film that covers the teeth, moves below the gum line. The bacteria cause inflammation of the gums, which ultimately causes damage to dental tissue and the bones supporting the teeth. According to the American Academy of Periodontology, this can lead to permanent damage, including tooth loss.Regular dental cleanings, brushing, and flossing are the best ways to reduce plaque on your teeth and prevent periodontitis. Some people are genetically predisposed to periodontitis, even with proper dental care. Genetic testing can identify people at greater risk, and early preventive measures can help improve their dental health.
Some lifestyle factors can raise a person's risk of periodontitis, including smoking, stress, diabetes, and improper diet. Teeth grinding and clenching of the teeth may also promote destruction of the gums and surrounding tissues.
Monday, August 21, 2006
Gum Disease Can Harm Much More Than Your Teeth
(HealthDay News) -- Proper oral hygiene may do a lot more than keep your teeth bright and cavity-free -- it could be a boon to your overall health.
A growing body of research suggests that periodontal disease may exacerbate a variety of health problems as wide-ranging as diabetes, heart disease, respiratory disease -- even premature births, experts say.
For instance, several promising studies have found that blood-sugar levels in diabetics with periodontal disease were reduced to normal when the patients' gum disease was treated. Other research revealed that the incidence of respiratory diseases among nursing-home residents was cut when they were treated for gum disease, said Dr. Robert Genco, distinguished professor of oral biology at the School of Dental Medicine at the State University of New York at Buffalo.
"All of these are pilot studies, and whether [the periodontal disease] is causal, we cannot say, but we can't ignore these associations," Genco said. "Further, from a practical standpoint, there is no harm in treating periodontal disease in these patients."
Gum disease is very common, Genco explained. Approximately 80 percent of Americans have some form of the condition, which is a bacterial infection of the gums surrounding the teeth.
Gingivitis is the mildest and most common form of gum disease, causing inflammation of the tissues around the teeth. More serious is periodontitis, when the inflammation affects the connective tissue supporting the teeth and, eventually, the bone. An estimated 20 percent of Americans have periodontitis, making it the primary cause of tooth loss in adults.
Because periodontal disease is so common, Genco said, treating the condition successfully could have a significant impact on public health, even if it's associated with only a small portion of other ailments.
One reason gum disease could contribute to other ailments, researchers say, may be that oral bacteria get into the bloodstream and cause inflammation of other body tissues. Another possibility is that an oral infection could trigger inflammatory responses from the immune system, adversely affecting the rest of the body.
Dr. Steven Offenbacher, distinguished professor at the Department of Periodontics at the University of North Carolina School of Dentistry, is studying the link between periodontal disease and preterm birth, and thinks inflammation could play an important part in the connection.
"Organisms are capable of invading the bloodstream and challenging the fetus by inflammation of the fetal and placenta unit, thus promoting premature birth," he said.
In monitoring the dental health of 1,020 pregnant women, Offenbacher and his colleagues found that those who suffered moderate-to-serious periodontal disease (14 percent of the women) were twice as likely to give birth to premature babies, than women with healthy gums. This difference held up even when the results were adjusted to reflect factors such age of the mother, prior preterm births and socioeconomic differences.
Offenbacher is now the lead investigator of a five-year, multi-center study that's enrolling 1,800 pregnant women and treating their periodontal disease, to see if the treatment reduces the risk of premature delivery. Within three years, he said, there will be good data showing whether or not treating gum disease can reduce preterm birth risk.
"We have not yet proven [a link] but the data suggests that treating the mother is safe and can improve dental health," he said.
Meanwhile, growing interest in the possible links between periodontal disease and other illnesses has prompted study into more aggressive treatment of gum disease.
"Periodontal disease is a silent disease. The signs are not that obvious, and people really don't know they have problem," Genco said.
Doctors with patients with diabetes, respiratory illnesses, heart disease as well as pregnant women would all benefit from awareness of the possible effects of periodontal disease on the conditions they're treating, he said.
To help them and their patients recognize the signs of periodontal disease, Genco is one of several health professionals working with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The goal: To develop a simple questionnaire for doctors to give their patients that would suggest when a patient should be seen by a dentist.
Answering "yes" to questions like whether their gums bleed or if their teeth look different could indicate which patients might have gum disease and should be referred to a dentist.
"People know when their gums recede -- there can be discoloration. Or if there is a difference in the spacing of their teeth or if their teeth look different," he said.
More information
To learn more about periodontal disease, visit the American Dental Association.
A growing body of research suggests that periodontal disease may exacerbate a variety of health problems as wide-ranging as diabetes, heart disease, respiratory disease -- even premature births, experts say.
For instance, several promising studies have found that blood-sugar levels in diabetics with periodontal disease were reduced to normal when the patients' gum disease was treated. Other research revealed that the incidence of respiratory diseases among nursing-home residents was cut when they were treated for gum disease, said Dr. Robert Genco, distinguished professor of oral biology at the School of Dental Medicine at the State University of New York at Buffalo.
"All of these are pilot studies, and whether [the periodontal disease] is causal, we cannot say, but we can't ignore these associations," Genco said. "Further, from a practical standpoint, there is no harm in treating periodontal disease in these patients."
Gum disease is very common, Genco explained. Approximately 80 percent of Americans have some form of the condition, which is a bacterial infection of the gums surrounding the teeth.
Gingivitis is the mildest and most common form of gum disease, causing inflammation of the tissues around the teeth. More serious is periodontitis, when the inflammation affects the connective tissue supporting the teeth and, eventually, the bone. An estimated 20 percent of Americans have periodontitis, making it the primary cause of tooth loss in adults.
Because periodontal disease is so common, Genco said, treating the condition successfully could have a significant impact on public health, even if it's associated with only a small portion of other ailments.
One reason gum disease could contribute to other ailments, researchers say, may be that oral bacteria get into the bloodstream and cause inflammation of other body tissues. Another possibility is that an oral infection could trigger inflammatory responses from the immune system, adversely affecting the rest of the body.
Dr. Steven Offenbacher, distinguished professor at the Department of Periodontics at the University of North Carolina School of Dentistry, is studying the link between periodontal disease and preterm birth, and thinks inflammation could play an important part in the connection.
"Organisms are capable of invading the bloodstream and challenging the fetus by inflammation of the fetal and placenta unit, thus promoting premature birth," he said.
In monitoring the dental health of 1,020 pregnant women, Offenbacher and his colleagues found that those who suffered moderate-to-serious periodontal disease (14 percent of the women) were twice as likely to give birth to premature babies, than women with healthy gums. This difference held up even when the results were adjusted to reflect factors such age of the mother, prior preterm births and socioeconomic differences.
Offenbacher is now the lead investigator of a five-year, multi-center study that's enrolling 1,800 pregnant women and treating their periodontal disease, to see if the treatment reduces the risk of premature delivery. Within three years, he said, there will be good data showing whether or not treating gum disease can reduce preterm birth risk.
"We have not yet proven [a link] but the data suggests that treating the mother is safe and can improve dental health," he said.
Meanwhile, growing interest in the possible links between periodontal disease and other illnesses has prompted study into more aggressive treatment of gum disease.
"Periodontal disease is a silent disease. The signs are not that obvious, and people really don't know they have problem," Genco said.
Doctors with patients with diabetes, respiratory illnesses, heart disease as well as pregnant women would all benefit from awareness of the possible effects of periodontal disease on the conditions they're treating, he said.
To help them and their patients recognize the signs of periodontal disease, Genco is one of several health professionals working with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The goal: To develop a simple questionnaire for doctors to give their patients that would suggest when a patient should be seen by a dentist.
Answering "yes" to questions like whether their gums bleed or if their teeth look different could indicate which patients might have gum disease and should be referred to a dentist.
"People know when their gums recede -- there can be discoloration. Or if there is a difference in the spacing of their teeth or if their teeth look different," he said.
More information
To learn more about periodontal disease, visit the American Dental Association.
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