The battle against periodontal disease is not for the easily shaken. It demands strength, endurance, grit, and grace. As we know, the recent CDC report states that 47.2% of adults over the age of 30 have some form of periodontal disease and that this increases to 70% over the age of 65. This discouraging statistic … Read more
Older women with gum infections are more likely to get many common cancers than their peers who have perfect oral health, a recent study suggests. Researchers focused on what’s known as periodontal disease, serious infections in the mouth that are caused by bacteria in dental plaque. Daily brushing and flossing can prevent gingivitis, the milder … Read more
Marijuana is being recognized for its benefits to both physical and mental health, but that doesn’t mean the drug is completely safe. A recent study from Columbia University offers evidence that recreational pot use increases the risk of gum disease and tooth loss. The study determined that frequent recreational use of the cannabis plant can double users’ risk of periodontal … Read more
In a recent review article published in the journal Dental Clinics of North America, Leslie R. Halpern, DDS, MD, PhD, MPH, from Meharry Medical College, Nashville, Tennessee, highlights vaccine-preventable diseases that pose a high risk in the dental healthcare setting. Noting the global increase in transmissible vectors of infectious diseases, Dr. Halpern emphasizes that oral … Read more
Estrogen therapy has already been credited with helping women manage an array of menopause-related issues, including reducing hot flashes, improving heart health and bone density, and maintaining levels of sexual satisfaction. Now a new study suggests that the same estrogen therapy used to treat osteoporosis can actually lead to healthier teeth and gums. The study … Read more
Studies have shown problems with oral health are strong co-indicators of other serious diseases including diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular disease. In 2009, the cost associated with the treatment of periodontal disease was shown be second only to cardiovascular disease in Canada. A team of researchers at Wilfrid Laurier University, alongside researchers from McMaster and the … Read more
The Journal of Investigative and Clinical Dentistry has published a study entitled “Remineralization of Natural Early Caries Lesion in vitro by P11‐4 Monitored with Photothermal Radiometry and Luminescence”. This paper concluded that Credentis’ new product CURODONT Repair based on the Curolox Technology (P11‐4) can regenerate early areas of tooth decay and these changes can be … Read more
In the September 2016 issue of this journal, I shared information about how the dental professional can help patients with their general and oral health through the diagnosis of acid reflux, a condition that affects up to 50% of the population. In this article, I discuss bulimia, an eating disorder which in the early stages … Read more
A University of Rochester Medical Center study suggests that electronic cigarettes are as equally damaging to gums and teeth as conventional cigarettes. The study, published in Oncotarget, was led by Irfan Rahman, Ph.D. professor of Environmental Medicine at the UR School of Medicine and Dentistry, and is the first scientific study to address e-cigarettes and … Read more
Researchers at the University at Buffalo have received a $239,000 grant from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research to study what happens when seemingly harmless bacteria overstay their welcome. The research, led by Jason Kay, PhD, assistant professor of oral biology in the UB School of Dental Medicine, will examine Streptococcus gordonii, a … Read more
Researchers have found that frequent recreational cannabis use—including marijuana, hashish, and hash oil—may be associated with elevated risk of periodontal disease (also known as gum disease). When compared to study participants who used cannabis less regularly, those who had used it at least once a month for a year demonstrated increased indicators of mild, moderate, … Read more
A new study in the journal Medicine reports that the bacteria initiating dental decay is also found on the heart valves of patients with heart disease. Nothing new here. Other studies have shown that Streptococcus mutans to be the dominant microorganism in diseased arterial plaque. (The picture above has blue chains of bacteria which are … Read more