Aspen Dental Dentist Dr. Brandon Arnow said are a number of studies indicating that your oral health impacts your overall health. For example, gum disease has been linked with the incidence of common health issues such as heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. And new research is coming out all the time. Recently, researchers at New York University found the first long-term evidence that gum disease may increase the risk of cognitive dysfunction associated with Alzheimer’s disease in healthy individuals as well as in those who already are cognitively impaired.

So, it’s incredibly important for people to maintain their oral health.

Unfortunately, people neglect their oral health for a variety of reasons: anxiety, fear, embarrassment. Another reason is that problems like gum disease don’t necessarily cause pain – and patients assume that their oral health is in good standing as long as they’re pain-free, so they don’t see twice-yearly dental exams as a priority.

Aspen Dental’s approach focuses on providing comprehensive care, which means addressing any immediate problems that may be causing pain, but also recommending treatment for long-lasting good health.

Back to Basics
Dr. Arnow explained that good oral hygiene at home is essential to help keep periodontal disease from becoming more serious or recurring. Even with the great new technologies that dentists have available, Dr. Arnow urged patients to remember the basics:

• Brush your teeth at least twice a day to help remove food and plaque on both natural teeth and dentures and floss at least once daily to remove plaque between teeth and below the gum line.
• Limit your intake of sweets, especially sugared, carbonated beverages.
• Eat more fruits and vegetables.
• Drink more water.
• And of course, have your mouth examined regularly by your dentist for signs of gum disease or infection.
• A Necessity for Denture Wearers, too

Dr. Arnow pointed out that good oral hygiene is equally as important for individuals with dentures, who should brush and rinse their dentures daily and clean with denture cleanser.

Denture-wearers should clean their gums to avoid plaque build-up that can irritate the tissue under dentures. Thoroughly clean dentures at night to avoid bacteria growth.

Another important tip for denture-wearers – pay attention to how much denture adhesive you use. If you’re going through more than one tube of denture cream every three weeks, your dentures may not fit properly and need replacement.

The American Dental Association recommends that dentures be replaced every 5 to 7 years, but in Dr. Arnow’s experience, many patients wait much longer than that, which can cause irritation or sores in the mouth over time.

Source:  ABC.com

Periodontal Disease and Smokers - Webinar by Dr. Richard Nejat

Periodontal disease is more prevalent and more severe in smokers than in nonsmokers. The host response in smokers is altered by a number of factors including increased gingival crevicular fluid, adhesion molecules and genetics. In addition, smokers are poor healers compared to nonsmokers and their response to periodontal therapy can be compromised which can result in continued progression of periodontal disease, or the need for more treatment.

The dental profession is undergoing a dramatic increase in its understanding of disease processes and mechanisms, including the interaction between oral and systemic diseases and conditions. Many of these advances are the result of new research techniques. The link between oral conditions, most notably periodontal diseases, and systemic events is accepted in the dental and medical professions. Ongoing research efforts will shed more light on these associations as well as the potential impact of periodontal therapy on the body.

The common thread between the mouth and body is inflammation. Periodontal disease is a bacterial infection resulting in a chronic inflammatory response. David L. Cochran, president of the AAP, indicates that the inflammatory mediators in periodontitis are the same ones that stimulate pathologic processes in blood vessels in coronary heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and pregnancy complications. With this level of commonality, disease linkages make perfect sense.

Among the most recent findings is further affirmation of the link between periodontitis and cardiovascular disease. Some studies, in fact, provide evidence that some perio pathogens are causative agents. A 2009 study (J Periodontal Res 2009 Sept.) found that the potent periodontal bacterium, P. gingivalis, contributed to the development of vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis, which are primary risk factors for cardiovascular events.

Another area of research concerns the potentially significant connection between periodontal disease and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Many studies have shown an epidemiological association, frequently finding the two diseases in the same study subjects. Now, evidence of the biologic basis of the association is also being uncovered.

Recently published research (J Clin Perio 2009 Dec.) examined bacteria in subgingival plaque, serum, and synovial joint fluid by DNA analysis. The results demonstrated that all study subjects had perio pathogens in the synovial joint fluid. The authors concluded that perio pathogens could have a role in the etiology of RA.

Another study (Compend Contin Educ Dent 2009 May) indicated that chronic periodontal and joint inflammation share many common pathologic, cellular, and molecular features. The authors also stated that the mechanisms involved in the destruction of adjacent connective tissue are quite similar in the two diseases.

They found the perio pathogen P. gingivalis may serve to amplify autoimmune responses, ultimately initiating RA in genetically susceptible individuals. Finally, a 2009 interventional study (J Periodontol 2009 Apr.) found that nonsurgical periodontal treatment had a beneficial effect on RA’s signs and symptoms.

There does not appear to be a clear consensus at this time regarding the association between periodontal disease and adverse pregnancy events. Some recent studies indicate an increased frequency of preterm, low-birth-weight babies among pregnant women with periodontal disease, while other well-designed studies do not find this relationship.

A clinically prudent approach may be to actively educate women of childbearing age about the importance of periodontal health, and provide perio treatment for pregnant women, ideally between the 14th and 20th weeks of gestation. Obviously, periodontal disease prevention prior to pregnancy would be ideal.

The strongest perio systemic link is between periodontal disease and diabetes. When these two diseases are poorly controlled, they adversely affect each other. Diabetes is the number one systemic risk factor for periodontal disease, while uncontrolled perio disease worsens glycemic control by increasing insulin resistance.

Some recent studies indicate that providing perio treatment improves glycemic control. A 2010 review article (Diabetes Care 2010 Feb.) concluded that periodontal treatment improves glycemic control in type 2 diabetic individuals for at least three months.

Particularly interesting research is underway, investigating the potential to diagnose diabetes using gingival crevicular blood. This seems logical since high blood sugar is present everywhere, including the oral cavity. Chairside testing of gingival crevicular blood for sugar levels and diagnosing diabetes in a dental setting could be among the most impactful public health initiatives ever developed.

There is no doubt about the existence of oral-systemic connections. Continuing global research will indicate the strength of these associations and unravel the mechanisms involved.

Source:  www.dentaleconomics.com

TUESDAY, Oct. 5 (HealthDay News) — Older women who get regular dental care are about one-third less likely to suffer from heart disease than those who don’t, new findings suggest.

The study doesn’t prove that dental care directly improves the heart health of women by lowering the risk of conditions like heart attack and stroke, and dental care seemed to have no benefit for men at all in terms of heart disease, but even so, the study authors were still impressed by the findings.

The study, which was released online Sept. 29 in advance of publication in an upcoming print issue of Health Economics, analyzed the medical records of nearly 7,000 people aged 44 to 88 who had participated in another study. The data from that study had been collected between 1996 and 2004.

The authors of the new study came to their conclusions after reviewing the data and adjusting the numbers so they wouldn’t be thrown off by large or small numbers of people who were, among other things, overweight or users of alcohol and tobacco.

“We think the findings reflect differences in how men and women develop cardiovascular disease,” study co-author Dr. Stephen Brown, a obstetrician/gynecologist resident at West Virginia University, said in a news release from the University of California at Berkeley. “Other studies suggest that estrogen has a protective effect against heart disease because it helps prevent the development of atherosclerosis. It’s not until women hit menopause, around age 50 to 55, that they start catching up with men.”

Dr. Maria Emanuel Ryan, a professor of oral biology and pathology at Stony Brook University in Stony Brook, N.Y., said she has seen signs of a link between dental care and heart disease in her own practice. The study, she said, “confirms the findings of some of the studies conducted in the insurance industry, which suggest that the medical costs for cardiac care and diabetes are reduced in patients who have regular dental visits.”

There does appear to be a connection between gum disease, in particular, and heart disease. Research suggests that chronic inflammation causes heart disease, Ryan noted, and gum disease “is the most common chronic inflammatory condition in the world. Unfortunately, periodontitis — or gum disease — is often a silent disease that goes undetected and untreated.”

Here is a list of important tips to prevent gum disease.

myfoxDetroit.com Staff

myFOXDetroit.com – According to realage.com , doctors already know good hygiene helps lower your chances of heart disease. Now there’s evidence that brushing and flossing can lower the chance of developing neck cancer.

A recent study says people with periodontis, a gum disease that breaks down the bones that hold the roots of teeth in place, had a higher risk of head and neck cancer.

Today, brushing and flossing those pearly whites has never been more important. Why? Although more data is needed to support these findings, research suggests that there is an association between gum disease and COPD.

Scientists at the University of New York in Buffalo analyzed both the oral and lung health of nearly 14,000 participants from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. They discovered that patients who had a history of COPD had more periodontal attachment loss (loose pockets surrounding the tooth) than did patients who did not have COPD. More specifically, they found that patients who had a mean attachment loss of 3 millimeters or greater were at a higher risk of developing COPD than were patients whose mean attachment loss was less than 3 millimeters.

Dr. Frank Scannapieco, D.M.D., Ph.D., suggests that there is a possibility that bacteria from the gums can travel to the lungs and contribute to lung infection.  He also suggests that there is a possibility that the inflammation in gum disease can somehow contribute to the inflammation in lung disease, which may affect the airways by limiting air passage to and from the lungs.

What can people do to reduce their risk? Here are some helpful tips:

• Quit smoking
• Reduce dietary sugars
• Eat a healthy diet
  
• Brush and floss daily
• See your dentist regularly

Source:  About.com

We wiggle the baby tooth that’s about to fall out. When it does, the “tooth fairy” slips some cash under our pillow. That permanent tooth arrives, only to be forgotten and virtually ignored.

Dr. Henry Chiang, a Newport Beach, Calif., dentist who has launched a 2010 Oral Health Campaign for Seniors, wants to reverse that attitude.

His efforts to make seniors more aware of gum disease and denture care comes at the same time that New York University dental researchers have found the first long-term evidence that periodontal (gum) disease could increase the risk of cognitive dysfunction associated with Alzheimer’s disease in healthy individuals as well as those already impaired.

The NYU study offers fresh evidence gum inflammation might contribute to brain inflammation, neurodegeneration and Alzheimer’s.

Dr. Chiang adds dry mouth conditions can exacerbate the problem. “For patients who suffer from dry mouth, contaminated dentures pose potential health risks. Dentures .. can harbor a huge number of harmful bacteria.

“In addition, the likelihood of dry mouth increases with the number of medications a person takes.”

Question: Will regular brushing solve this problem?

Answer: Some seniors lose dexterity, and that’s a challenge to having a clean mouth. And, let’s face it, most people don’t brush a full two minutes as recommended.

Question: What about using an electric toothbrush?

Answer: This is definitely a good option. But the electric brush can actually cause more harm to gums if the person brushes too hard.

Question: Do you believe proper denture care can solve periodontal problems?

Answer: Some people a lot of people sleep with their dentures in place. Dentures are plastic so they are porous. They should be brushed with a little warm soap and water, not toothpaste and not hot water. And no one…should sleep with them in place.

Question: Do a lot of seniors have dentures?

Answer: There are definitely more seniors with teeth into older age than before. But medications can dry out the mouth and this reduces the salivary flow and increases acidity in the mouth.

If the bacteria gets spent inside, it’s ingested inside your body. We find a lot of it the same as plaque in arteries. And it’s twice as likely to lead to cardiovascular problems if it exists.

Question: Are we aware of these problems?

Answer: Often not, because so many seniors don’t go to see a dentist. They may lack dental insurance. Meanwhile, they swallow the plaque constantly.

Source:  Poughkeepsie Journal

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) suggest more American adults may have gum disease; previous estimates underestimate periodontal disease in the US population

CHICAGO, Sept. 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The prevalence of periodontal disease in the United States may be significantly higher than originally estimated. Research published in the Journal of Dental Research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) suggests that the prevalence of periodontal disease may have been underestimated by as much as 50 percent. The implication is that more American adults may suffer from moderate to severe gum disease than previously thought.

In a National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) pilot study, funded by the CDC’s Division of Oral Health, a full-mouth, comprehensive periodontal examination was conducted on over 450 adults over the age of 35. Periodontal disease was classified according to definitions determined by the CDC in collaboration with the AAP. The prevalence rates were then compared against the results of previous NHANES studies which used a partial-mouth periodontal examination. Historically, NHANES has served as the main source for determining prevalence of periodontal disease in US adults. The pilot study finds that the original partial-mouth study methodology may have underestimated true disease prevalence by up to 50 percent.

Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the gum tissue and other structures supporting the teeth. If left untreated, it can lead to tooth loss, and may also interfere with other systems of the body. Several research studies have associated gum disease with other chronic inflammatory diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and rheumatoid arthritis.

“This study shows that periodontal disease is a bigger problem than we all thought.  It is a call to action for anyone who cares about his or her oral health.” said Samuel Low, DDS, MS, associate dean and professor of periodontology at the University of Florida College of Dentistry, and president of the American Academy of Periodontology. “Given what we know about the relationship between gum disease and other diseases, taking care of your oral health isn’t just about a pretty smile. It has bigger implications for overall health, and is therefore a more significant public health problem.”

Dr. Low explained that the increased prevalence of periodontal disease makes it essential to maintain healthy teeth and gums. “Not only should you take good care of your periodontal health with daily tooth brushing and flossing, you should expect to get a comprehensive periodontal evaluation every year,” he advised. A dental professional, such as a periodontist, a specialist in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of gum disease, will conduct the comprehensive exam to assess your periodontal disease status.

According to Paul Eke, MPH, PhD, epidemiologist at the CDC and lead author of the study, the findings have significant public health implications. “The study suggests we have likely underestimated the prevalence of periodontal disease in the adult US population,” he said. “We are currently utilizing a full-mouth periodontal examination in the 2009/10 NHANES to better understand the full extent and characteristics of periodontal disease in our adult population.” Dr. Eke added, “Research suggests a connection between periodontal health and systemic health. In light of these findings, understanding the relationships between periodontal disease and other systemic diseases in the adult U.S. population is more crucial than ever.”

To assess your risk for periodontal disease and learn more, visit perio.org.

About the American Academy of Periodontology

The American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) is the professional organization for periodontists – specialists in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases affecting the gums and supporting structures of the teeth, and in the placement of dental implants. Periodontists are also dentistry’s experts in the treatment of oral inflammation. They receive three additional years of specialized training following dental school, and periodontics is one of the nine dental specialties recognized by the American Dental Association. The AAP has 8,000 members world-wide.

SOURCE American Academy of Periodontology

Scientists say they have established one reason why gum disease may increase the risk of heart disease.

The link between gum and heart problems has long been recognised but it is unclear if poor oral health is simply a marker of a person’s general wellbeing.

UK and Irish experts now say bacteria enter the bloodstream via sore gums and deposit a clot-forming protein.

The findings are being presented at a meeting of the Society for General Microbiology.

Earlier this year a Scottish study of more than 11,000 people found people who did not brush their teeth twice a day were at increased risk of heart disease.

It backed up previous findings suggesting a link, but researchers stressed the nature of the relationship still needed further analysis.

Protective platelets

Scientists from the University of Bristol working with the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland now suggest it is the Streptococcus bacteria – responsible for causing tooth plaque and gum disease – which may be to blame.

Their work shows this bacteria, once let loose in the bloodstream, makes a protein known as PadA which forces platelets in the blood to stick together and clot.

“When the platelets clump together they completely encase the bacteria.

“This provides a protective cover not only from the immune system, but also from antibiotics that might be used to treat infection,” said Professor Howard Jenkinson, who led the research.

“Unfortunately, as well as helping out the bacteria, platelet clumping can cause small blood clots, growths on the heart valves, or inflammation of blood vessels that can block the blood supply to the heart and brain.”

While maintaining good dental hygiene could minimise the risk, the team is also investigating how the platelet-activating function of the protein PadA can be blocked.

Professor Damian Walmsley, scientific adviser to the British Dental Association, said: “Research such as this makes a welcome contribution to further understanding the nature of the relationship between gum disease and heart disease.

“It also underlines the high importance of brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, restricting your intake of sugary foods and drinks and visiting the dentist regularly in order to maintain good oral health.”

The British Heart Foundation said that were other factors besides oral health which had a greater impact on heart health.

But their senior cardiac nurse Cathy Ross added that combining good oral health care “with a healthy diet, not smoking and taking part in plenty of physical activity will go a long way in helping you reduce your overall risk of heart disease”.

Source:  BBC News

Treating serious gum disease in diabetics can help to lower their blood sugar levels, a new study has found.

Edinburgh University scientists have found reducing gum inflammation in people with diabetes can help minimise complications with the condition.

It is thought when bacteria infect the mouth causing inflammation the chemical changes reduce effectiveness of insulin and raise the levels of blood sugar.

Treatment to reduce inflammation may therefore help reduce blood sugar.

The findings are published as part of the international Cochrane Collaboration.

Dental institute

The team, including researchers from UCL Eastman Dental Institute, Peninsula Dental School and Ottawa University, said their findings highlighted the need for doctors and dentists to work together in the treatment of people with diabetes.

Dr Terry Simpson, honorary research fellow at Edinburgh University’s dental institute, who led the study, said: “This research confirms that there may be a link between serious gum disease and diabetes.

“It highlights the role dentists can play in managing the condition, given that gum disease is very treatable.

“By far the most important aspect of diabetes management is the use of insulin, drugs and diet to control blood sugar levels but maintaining good dental health is something patients and healthcare professionals should also recognise.

“Although the benefit in terms of insulin management is small, anything we can do to promote the wellbeing of people with diabetes should be welcomed.”