The Periodontal Health, Heart Health Connection

What’s Good For Your Heart

Periodontal Health Linked to Heart Health

More and more, patients and practitioners are realizing that good at-home oral health habits are important for more than just nice-looking teeth. Keeping teeth healthy and clean is also important for maintaining good heart health.

According to a recent study published in the Journal of Periodontology, people with periodontal disease are at a higher risk for developing cardiovascular disease than those with healthy gums. The study found that study participants with gum disease had higher levels of harmful bacteria in the bloodstream – up to four times more than study participants with healthy gums.

Researchers at Columbia University School of Public Health found similar results, reinforcing doctors’ longstanding belief that periodontal health is directly linked to cardiovascular health.

Columbia University researchers looked at three forms of bacteria common in patients with gum disease and found that patients with one or any combination of the three bacteria also had hardening of the arteries.

These are just two examples of dozens of ongoing studies that continue to link good oral health with good heart health.
Patient education is key in this area, since the average patient will simply assume that brushing and flossing teeth is only essential to maintaining healthy teeth and gums. Incentive to be more proactive at brushing and flossing may increase should patients have a better understanding of how their oral health affects their overall health, including the link between periodontal health and heart health.

It’s a simple formula – good oral care can help maintain a healthy heart.

New Study from University of North Carolina Confirms Dental Bib Clips Contaminated

New Study from University of North Carolina Confirms Dental Bib Clips Contaminated

Researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has shown that unsterilized bib clips pose a significant hygiene risk.

UNC researchers in the school’s oral microbiology lab found that one in five bib clips sampled from hygiene and dental operatories showed a measurable presence of staphylococci, streptococci, pseudomonas, and the enteric bacteria E. coli.

These microorganisms were not just from skin but also from saliva and/or plaque, skin, or water lines. These findings are logical, as chains and clips are seldom sterilized, are touched by gloved and ungloved hygienists and dentists, and are used on many patients throughout each day.

Bib chains tested in the hygiene environment were found to have equal growth as those in an operative, periodontic/endodontic environment.

To avoid clip contamination:

• Sterilize clips between patients. Perhaps the best way to do this is to have several clips available in each work station at the start of each day.

• Use disposable clips, or bibs that don’t require clips.

• Use clips and chains that have fewer surfaces in which debris can accumulate.

Children With Special Needs Also Have Special Oral Care Needs

Handle with Care

Children with Special Needs Also Have Special Oral Care Needs

Treating patients with special needs simply isn’t the same as treating other children. Some children may not be able to sit still long enough for a full treatment. Others may struggle with the sensory issues the dental office presents – new smells and sounds along with bright lights might simply overwhelm them.

Now the May/June 2010 issue of General Dentistry reports that children’s special needs, including behavioral issues, cognitive disorders, genetic disorders and systemic diseases may increase a child’s risk of developing tooth decay and other oral diseases.

According to the article, the special diets, frequent use of medicines and lack of proper oral hygiene all add up to a significant challenge in maintaining good oral health.

For example, some parents may not know that special diets for children with below-average weight or unique food allergies can unintentionally promote tooth decay. Underweight children may be directed to consume drinks containing high amounts of carbohydrates, which can cause demineralization of teeth.Medications can also be a source of concern. Because children often find it difficult to swallow pills, many of their medicines may utilize flavored, sugary syrups. When parents or guardians give these syrups to a child, especially at bedtime, the sugars can pool around the child’s teeth and gums, promoting decay.

Adult caregivers and parents also need to help children with special needs brush their teeth, not only to overcome the dietary issues, but also to help overcome dexterity issues faced by children with special needs.

Taking children with special health care needs to the dentist is as important as caring for their other medical needs, the article concludes.

Your Patient’s Bad Breath is Likely Caused by a Common Bacteria

Goodbye, Halitosis!

Your Patient’s Bad Breath is Likely Caused by a Common Bacteria

The human mouth is filled with hundreds of bacteria. Many of those bacteria are simply hanging out in the mouth because it’s a nice dark and wet place to live. A few of those bacteria, however, create a waste product called “volatile sulfur compounds” (VSCs) – the root cause of many cases of halitosis (bad breath).

The term “volatile” simply describes the fact that these compounds evaporate readily, even at normal temperatures. The extreme volatility of VSCs explains how these compounds have the ability to offend those around us, instantly.

A person’s mouth is home to  hundreds of different species of bacteria. And on going in our mouth, at all times, is a constant battle for living space between the types of bacteria which do create waste products that cause bad breath and those that don’t. And it is the precise balance between the relative numbers of these two different types of bacteria that will ultimately determine the quality of a person’s breath.

An accumulation of dental plaque creates the perfect conditions for VSC-causing bacteria to thrive on the surfaces of teeth and deep below the gum line. As more and more plaque builds up in a person’s mouth, the bacteria that cause bad breath gain available living space and proliferate, thus increasing the level of odor causing compounds that escape with each breath that is exhaled.

If brushing and flossing alone were enough to combat these VSC-causing bacteria, those who have pretty good dental habits should always have good breath. But bad breath is obviously not always the result of poor dental hygiene, and if antibacterial mouthwashes were the answer, then the same would be true – no one would ever have bad breath.

The true key to eliminating halitosis is to crowd out those VSC-causing bacteria. Probiotic oral care bacteria compete with the bacteria responsible for bad breath. By consuming the same nutrients as the bad-breath-causing bacteria and fighting with them for space on the surfaces of teeth and below the gum line, probiotics crowd out the smelly bacteria and make breath fresh around the clock.

Researchers Link Prostate Problems with Periodontal Disease

Inflammation May Be Connection Between Two Common Conditions

Researchers Link Prostate Problems with Periodontal Disease

According to researchers from Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine and University Hospitals Case Medical Center, gum disease may be linked to prostate problems, reports a study recently published in the Journal of Periodontology , the official journal of the American Academy of Periodontology.

The researchers concluded that both conditions, periodontal disease and prostatitis both cause inflammation, which may be the link between the conditions.

“Subjects with both high CAL levels and moderate to severe prostatitis have higher levels of PSA or inflammation,” stated Nabil Bissada, chair of the department of periodontics in the dental school.

Because periodontitis has been linked to heart disease, diabetes and other illnesses associated with aging, the researchers believed a link might exist to prostate disease.

Thirty-five men from a sample of 150 patients qualified for the study, funded by the department of periodontology at the dental school. The participants were selected from patients at the University Hospitals Case Medical Center with mild to severe prostatitis, who had undergone needle biopsies and were found to have inflammation and in some patients, malignancies.

The participants were divided into two groups: those with high PSA levels for moderate or severe prostatitis or a malignancy and those with PSA levels below 4 ng/ml. All had not had dental work done for at least three months and were given an examination to measure the gum health.

Looking at the results, the researchers from the dental school and the department of urology and the Institute of Pathology at the hospital found those with the most severe form of the prostatitis also showed signs for periodontitis.

What the research failed to uncover is how, aside from inflammation, the two conditions are related.

Dry Mouth Linked to Tooth Decay

An Often Unconsidered Condition

Dry Mouth Linked to Tooth Decay

Saliva. It’s the miracle liquid that helps wash away cavity-causing bacteria and food debris, all the while protecting your tooth enamel.

Research shows that hundreds – up to even 1,000! – of commonly prescribed medications cause dry mouth, reducing the flow of saliva and exponentially increasing the risk of tooth decay.

Research shows that hundreds – up to even 1,000! – of commonly prescribed medications cause dry mouth, reducing the flow of saliva and exponentially increasing the risk of tooth decay. Researchers say that anything that curbs the flow of saliva in the mouth should be of major concern to dentists and hygienists

“Our saliva washes away sugars and other substances that help promote cavities. It neutralizes the acids in our mouths,” says Gene Watson, D.D.S., Ph.D., is director of the Salivary Dysfunction Center at the University of Rochester Medical Center. “Saliva is concentrated with minerals like calcium and phosphate. When you eat sugar, bacteria on your teeth produce acid that demineralizes the teeth a little bit, but then the saliva flows in and replaces the layer that has been removed.”

Researchers say millions of people are at heightened risk for tooth decay because of the medicines they take, particularly the elderly, many of whom take several medications that stem the flow of saliva.

One medication commonly prescribed for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder can also cause dry mouth and increase risk of excessive carries development in the children who take it.

Aside from discontinuing use of the medications, patients can make several changes that can reduce their risk of excessive tooth decay at the hands of reduced saliva flow:

1.    Brush their teeth more often and very gently to ensure enamel isn’t damaged.
2.    Have teeth checked every six months without fail. Sometimes a problem will be detected that would require a change in medication to preserve the health of the teeth.
3.    If medications causing dry mouth simply cannot be changed, consider prescribing medications that can increase saliva production to offset the effects of the other medications.

Science at the Service of the Person

An Interview with Dr. Jeffrey Hillman of Oragenics

By Deacon Keith Fournier
5/14/2010
Catholic Online

In 2008 the Congregation for the Doctrine of the faith in the Catholic Church issued their instruction on the “Dignity of the Human Person.” It began with these words “The dignity of a person must be recognized in every human being from conception to natural death. This fundamental principle expresses a great ‘yes’ to human life and must be at the center of ethical reflection on biomedical research, which has an ever greater importance in today’s world.”

The instruction offers “…a word of support and encouragement for the perspective on culture which considers science an invaluable service to the integral good of the life and dignity of every human being. The Church therefore views scientific research with hope and desires that many Christians will dedicate themselves to the progress of biomedicine and will bear witness to their faith in this field. She hopes moreover that the results of such research may also be made available in areas of the world that are poor and afflicted by disease, so that those who are most in need will receive humanitarian assistance.”

As someone who believes deeply that the Catholic Church gives a great “Yes to Life” I am “on the lookout” for men, women and organizations who view science this way. One of the often repeated fallacies one reads in the media is that the Catholic Church opposes Stem Cell research. The truth is the Church opposes deadly stem cell research such as research on human embryos which always results in taking the life of the embryonic human person. It is immoral to take innocent human life even if one can then use parts of the human person who has been killed to develop a potential cure for another.

The Church wholeheartedly supports research on Adult Stem Cells and cells derived from fetal cord blood. Neither type of stem cell research results in the taking of innocent human lives. They also show tremendous promise! As an example of the encouragement of life affirming stem cell research, a spokesman for the Vatican recently made known their strong support for the research being conducted at the University Of Maryland School Of Medicine using adult stem cells.

As a father of five grown children and grandfather to six, I am well aware of the many needs involved in raising healthy children.  That includes their moral, emotional, spiritual and physical health. Of course, their physical health includes their oral hygiene. Research shows the connection between overall health and good oral hygiene.  As a 55 year old man who lost my father to heart disease, I am sensitized to that subject. I was surprised years ago to find the connection between oral and heart disease.

Dental disease is a quiet, yet growing, national epidemic.  New studies, including recently-published reports from the Mayo Clinic, confirm that periodontal disease and poor oral health are linked to heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, and other illnesses.  American Dental Association studies show that three out of four of Americans are affected by periodontal disease at some point in their lives. My friend, Catholic Online’s own Dr. Denton, has taught me much about an integrative approach to health which respects the unity of the human person, body, soul and spirit. He has helped me understand the connection between overall health and what he calls “beautiful living.”

I recently became interested in the science of probiotics which respects the amazing curative qualities of our own body. There are both good and bad bacteria in our systems all the time. The good bacteria are the most effective way to minimize the damaging effects of the bad bacteria. We have seen the application of probiotics in the growing number of products, including yogurt, which promote overall digestive health.

Recently I read of an extraordinary application of probiotics in oral health. It was developed by Dr. Jeffrey Hillman, D.M.D., Ph.D. It is the result of more than 25 years of research which began at the Harvard-affiliated Forsyth Institute in Boston and continued at the University of Florida. The technology has only recently become available for the general public. It provides what is called Replacement Therapy for preventing dental caries or cavities.

I sought an interview with Dr. Hillman through a mutual friend. He gladly assented. I found this him to be humble, self effacing, approachable and genuinely committed to good science at the service of the human person and the common good. His academic and professional credentials are extraordinary. However, what really impressed me was his dedication to his work. He told me “People tend to take a simple approach to oral care in our culture. We think in terms of killing all of the bacteria that are present in the mouth. But it’s just not that simple; the human mouth contains many … types of bacteria, including some that are helpful to us.”

It made a lot of sense to me. As the interview progressed I saw the myriad of applications of the Doctor’s discovery. He holds over a dozen patents and has spent his career trying to alleviate suffering. He told me “tooth decay is the most common infectious disease in the world.” I had never really considered that fact. Now, every morning as I brush my teeth I think of it.

I was intrigued when the good Doctor told me he was inspired by Louis Pasteur. Like Pasteur, Dr. Hillman is serious about the potential of science to lessen human suffering. The faith of Pasteur drove his scientific genius toward the good. Above his tomb in the Pasteur Institute are engraved these words “Happy the man who bears within him a divinity, an ideal of beauty and obeys it; an ideal of art, and ideal of science, an ideal of country, and ideal of the virtues of the Gospel.” It is reported that Pasteur died with a rosary in his hand after listening to the life of St. Vincent de Paul.

Dr. Hillman was impressed with the scientists’ genuine humanism and Pasteur’s discovery that there are good bacteria which might one day be used to fight bad bacteria. Pasteur’s scientific discoveries have led to many scientific advances.  Dr. Hillman told me that his idea of expanding probiotic science, the use of good bacteria to combat the bad, in the arena of oral health care was “like a light bulb going off in my head.” He has dedicated over thirty years to this project.

His father told him “If we can succeed in preventing tooth decay we can apply it to other bacteria” and he set about to do just that. In our extensive interview he explained it to me, a non-scientist, in this very understandable way, “The human body is extraordinarily complex. There are 1,000 or more different types of bacteria. They don’t want to hurt us. We feed them, we clothe them, and we take them to the movies. There are relatively few bacteria which can hurt us. We are simply helping the body by improving on the marvelous design, to prevent them from doing so.”

Doctor Hillman has patented his discoveries and now makes it all available in a line of oral health care products for adults and children.  I also heard of the unique business relationship which has been entered into to distribute the products. The Florida-based biotechnology company Oragenics, Inc., (OTCBB:ORNI) and RICCI PHARMA, a recognized health products company with offices in Rome and Slovakia, have entered into a distribution agreement that the parties anticipate will provide Oragenics’ proprietary oral care probiotic products, EvoraPlus® and EvoraKids^TM, to RICCI PHARMA.

RICCI PHARMA will then  have exclusive distribution rights through Duc in Altum, a foundation whose humanitarian projects are inspired by the social teachings of the late Pope John Paul II. Duc in Altum’s honorary chairman is the Polish Pope’s former private secretary for over 30 years, Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, currently Archbishop of Krakow. The foundation, whose projects are known by the Holy See and encouraged by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, is expected to further promote Oragenics’ products with the Church’s capillary network of health services.

When the interview ended I was happy to have discovered one more dedicated medical professional promoting science at the service of the human person and the common good.

Raisins Not a Culprit for Tooth Decay

Debunking the Myth

Raisins Not a Culprit for Tooth Decay

It’s long been believed that raisins aren’t the healthiest snack for healthy smiles, but research may debunk that myth, say U.S. researchers.

In addition to the polyphenols, flavonoids and iron in raisins, U.S. researchers also found germ-fighters that may suppress tooth decay. One of the many antimicrobial phytochemicals found in raisins – oleanolic acid – has been shown to suppress the growth of decay-causing Streptococcus mutans.

The compound was effective against the bacteria at concentrations ranging from about 4 to 1,000 µg/ml. At a concentration of 31 µg/ml, oleanolic acid also blocked S. mutans adherence to surfaces. Adherence is crucial for the bacteria to form dental plaque the sticky biofilm consisting of oral bacteria that accumulates on teeth. After a sugary meal, these bacteria release acids that erode the tooth enamel.

Grape seed extract, high in proanthocyanidins, has the potential of being natural agent for non-invasive root caries therapy, the researchers said.

The researchers from the University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Dentistry hypothesized that raisins contain antimicrobial phytochemicals capable of suppressing oral pathogens associated with caries or periodontal diseases and thus benefit oral health.

Researchers said that the data counters a longstanding public perception that raisins promote cavities.

EvoraKids in Hygienetown

In the Spotlight

EvoraKids in Hygienetown

We’re very proud to learn that EvoraKids, Oral Care Probiotics for Children ages 3 -10, is in the product spotlight this week for Hygienetown’s digital newsletter and on the Hygienetown website.

Hygienetown’s digital newsletter keeps dental hygienists on the cutting edge of their professions.

Written for hygienists as a source of peer education, the Hygienetown website features monthly profiles of dental companies, forums for dental professionals to discuss certain subjects and a monthly poll on various hygiene topics, including Periodontal Therapy, Surgery, Oral Cancer and Clinical Presentations.

Hygienetown is a place for hygienists to share experiences, challenges and tips with others in their professions, as well as a place for hygienists to earn online continuing education credits.

EvoraKids is an innovative new product from Oragenics. This one-of-a-kind oral care probiotic chew contains the patent-pending ProBiora3 blend of probiotics that crowd out harmful bacteria and support tooth health.

EvoraKids reaches where toothbrushes and floss can’t – into the crevices on the pits and fissures in the chewing surfaces of teeth. Because it’s difficult to know how well children are brushing their teeth, EvoraKids offers parents peace of mind that they have taken the extra step needed ensure happier smiles.

The beneficial bacteria found in EvoraKids are natural residents in very healthy mouths. Using EvoraKids daily ensures that the beneficial bacteria have the upper hand in maintaining a healthy bacterial balance in your children’s mouths.

Our thanks go out to Hygienetown for the EvoraKids shout-out!