April 9th, 2012
Bacteria, including the drug resistant MRSA, can reside on dentures and be aspirated into the lungs to cause pneumonia.
The Araraquara Dental School in Brazil found that zapping dentures in the microwave for 3 minutes OR soaking them in a 2 percent chlorhexidine gluconate solution for 10 minutes will disinfect the dentures and assist in the longevity of those wearing them.
Reference: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22383208
April 2nd, 2012
April is also Colorectal Cancer Awareness month.
A recent study published in Genome Research found that a bacterium that has been associated with periodontal disease has also been detected in colon tumors. Fusobacterium is typically found in dental plaque and associated with gum disease or periodontal disease. This discovery of the bacteria found in both the mouth and the colon is the first time this type of microorganism has been found to play a role in colon cancer. It is an important finding because colon cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States.
It has not yet been determined whe ther
the fusobacterium found in colon cancer is essential for the cancer to grow or whether it just affords a favorable environment for the bacterium. In either case, it is suggested that those with periodontal disease run a higher risk of colon cancer. It is important to treat the gum disease and lower the fusobacterium in the mouth.
April 2nd, 2012
April is ORAL CANCER AWARENESS MONTH. Over 40,000 Americans are diagnosed each year with oral cancer.
This cancer kills one person per hour every hour of the day and night. Most of the signs go unnoticed by the patient. Those most at risk are smokers, tobacco chewers, alcohol users, those with the HPV virus and those exposed to sunlight on the lips or outer lip area.
Your dentist is one of the medical professions that can screen for oral cancer. So if you haven’t seen a dentist in the last six months, April is a good time to make that appointment.
March 26th, 2012
A recent study was just released at the 41st Annual Meeting & Exhibition of the American Association for Dental Research (AADR). It studied medical costs for diabetic patients with periodontal disease who received periodontal treatment and those that did not receive periodontal treatment. Hospital admissions decreased by 33% and cost savings for medical care averaged almost $2000 per year for those that received
periodontal treatment.
For more info: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-03/iaa-ptr032112.php
March 1st, 2012
Just published (Feb 2012) in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society from a cooperative study involving several US universities:
There are benefits to men aged 65 and older that there is a slowing of periodontal disease progression with a higher intake of high-fiber foods, especially fruits. Although the study was conducted on men, it is logical to also recommend a higher fiber diet for women.
Read more at: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1532-5415.2011.03866.x/abstract
January 31st, 2012
Baci and Juno are two therapy dogs in our office. February is National Pet Dental Month, but as you might expect, we are concerned about their teeth every day . But how about you as a pet owner ? Do you brush your pet’s teeth every day? Baci and Juno beg for their teeth to be brushed.
And I’m happy to do it, because like periodontal disease in humans, this disease affects dogs as well. If they have gum disease, then their heart, liver, lungs, etc are compromised.
And 8 – 15 year life expectancy for a dog isn’t much in my world. I want my dogs to live as long as possible.
I love ‘em. If you love your pets, brush their teeth every day, so you can love them longer. Be sure to use pet tooth paste as human tooth paste is not good for pets!
December 20th, 2011
I, like a lot of other people, are convinced that periodontal disease is linked to the whole body. Not only does research after research show this, but I see it in my private practice as well. We see the links most dramatically between periodontal disease and the systemic diseases such as heart issues, COPD, cancers, arthritis & diabetes.
However, sometimes those without any of these diseases still have gum disease. It may be their stress level that is causing the perio problems. This too can be backed up by research showing those living with high degrees of stress also have periodontal disease. Stress taxes the body and lowers one immune system.
This leads to gums being inflamed and gum disease to set in.
In addition, when one is stressed, they are less likely to follow good hygiene procedures and may neglect their daily oral care. Another reason is that those with stress often gravitate towards foods high in sugar content. Whether you are stresses out or not, take good care of your teeth by providing them with meticulous oral hygiene. It makes a difference to your whole body.
December 12th, 2011
Your back teeth are hard to get to. So food particles and bacteria really collect in that area. This is often the cause of bad breath even after you brush. And tooth decay is more prevalent there. Your toothbrush has a real hard time. The slim tip on the Dental Air Force allows a much easier access as well as a better cleaning around the gum line and between that last tooth and the previous one. Be sure to spend more time on those back teeth.
October 28th, 2011
If you’re a parent, a dentist … and even a kid… you gotta like this from the National Service Resources!
Alternatives for Halloween candy:
October 25th, 2011
As a dentist, I know how awesome the mouth is. And every day, I keep finding out that it is more amazing.
Research in Tel Aviv University, has found that the oral mucosa (a special tissue that lines the mouth) may be able
to be used as stem cells.
This has great advantage over the current stem cell collection in embryos.
2. They have properties of young cells, even when collected from older patients.
3. Trillion of cells are gotten from a small piece of tissue.
4. Because they are taken from the same patient, there is no danger of rejection as there is in stem cells from embryos.
5. There is not the ethical and safety controversy associated with oral mucosa stem cells.
To read more, go to: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110823104851.htm
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