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.

Certain Diets May Increase Inflammation, Allergies

Certain Diets May Increase Inflammation, Allergies

The incidence of asthma has been on the rise in the United States for the past decade, and recent research – conducted outside of America – may shed a little light on the rising trend.

The study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, compared children from a rural African village whose diets were rich in natural sources of fiber and fatty acids to children living in Florence, Italy. The Italian children ate higher quantities of meat, fat and sugar.

Researchers found that the African children had less obesity-linked bacteria and a greater abundance of fatty acids which protect against inflammation causing asthma, eczema and other allergic reactions.

They also found that Italian children who were still breast-feeding harbored beneficial bacteria resembling the African children’s, indicating diet may dominate other factors such as ethnicity, sanitation, geography or climate, say the researchers.

Pediatrician Dr Paolo Lionetti, of Florence University, and colleagues said children in industrialized countries (like America) who eat low-fiber, high-sugar ‘Western’ diets may reduce microbial richnes, potentially contributing to a rise in allergic and inflammatory diseases in the last half-century.

A rise in new diseases such as allergic, autoimmune disorders, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) both in adults and in children has been observed in industrialized countries, noted the researchers, and it is hypothesized that improvements in hygiene together with decreased microbial exposure in childhood are considered responsible for this increase.

“The gastrointestinal microflora plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of IBD and recent studies demonstrate obesity is associated with imbalance in the normal gut microbiota.”

Australian Dental Association Calls Sports Drinks “Decay in a Bottle”

Australian Dental Association Calls Sports Drinks “Decay in a Bottle”

A new study conducted by the Australian Dental Association found that 68 percent of children showed some sign of tooth erosion, the pattern of which is similar to that seen in wine drinkers.

The study, which included more than 700 children ages six to 15, has effectively shown that the increase in consumption of sports drinks – much more so than sodas and juice drinks – is profoundly affecting the future health of children’s teeth.

Former Queensland Dental Association president Martin Webb said that these drinks may be called “decay in a bottle,” with their high acidity and sugar content that override the mouth’s natural defenses.

“Energy drinks are high in sugar content and quite high in acid, the ingredients of erosion,” Webb explained. He also said that athletes could rehydrate better with water than with these drinks. Lactic acid build-up from sport is present in the mouth and when sugar is added through the energy drinks, the effect is to demineralize the teeth. Unless plenty of water is taken and salivation is stimulated, a layer is stripped from the teeth. It does not come back.

“We also see the degree of erosion that’s caused when people drink large quantities of orange juice and black cola drinks. It strips a thin layer off the teeth,” Webb said.

Doctors Explain Dangers of Prolonged Bottle Use

Well-Worth 5 Minutes

Doctors Explain Dangers of Prolonged Bottle Use

Helping protect children from tooth decay, iron deficiency and obesity is all within the hands of willing and capable physicians, according to a study published in the July 12, 2010 edition of Pediatrics.

Researchers at St. Michael’s Hospital and the Hospital for Sick Children found that family doctors and pediatricians who, at 9-month well-baby visits offered a brief discussion of the dangers of prolonged bottle use, experienced a 60 percent drop in the number of children still using bottles at 3 years old.

That, according to Jonathon Maguire, M.D., a pediatrician at St. Michael’s and the lead author of the study, was a profound return on investment for 5 minutes of education.

Most of the babies whose parents received the advice stopped using the bottle by their first birthday, compared to 16 months for babies whose parents received no instruction, Dr. Maguire said.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends complete bottle weaning for healthy children by 15 months, but many doctors and parents are unaware of this, Dr. Maguire said. Many parents continue bottle feeding well past that time, even until their children are 3 or 4 years old.

“This shows it’s possible for health professionals to positively influence the health behaviour of young children before they develop unhealthy habits and will hopefully lead to healthier children and healthier adults that they become.”

1 in 4 Californian Children Have Never Seen a Dentist

Study Finds That 1 in 4 Californian Children Have Never Seen a Dentist

It seems American families are still struggling with how to afford to take children regular dental appointments according to a new study published in the journal Health Affairs .

In fact, the study, “Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Dental Care for Publicly Insured Children,” revealed that nearly 25 percent of children in California age 11 and under have never seen a dentist.

The study, “Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Dental Care for Publicly Insured Children,” examines barriers to dental care among California children age 11 and under, using data from the 2005 California Health Interview Survey. The study contains data on nearly 11,000 children.

Researchers Nadereh Pourat, of the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, and Len Finocchio, of the California HealthCare Foundation, used data from the 2005 California Health Interview Study to determine how the dental care needs of children in California were being met.

The study also revealed that Latino and African American children with all types of insurance were less likely than Asian American and white children to have visited the dentist in the previous six months — or even in their entire lifetime.

The authors say their research did uncover that having any form of dental insurance significantly increases the odds of seeing a dentist on a regular basis. The studied showed that 54 percent of privately insured children and 27 percent of publicly insured children had seen the dentist during the previous six months, compared with 12 percent of children without dental coverage.

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.

Study Links Tooth Loss and Heart Disease

Taking Care of Teeth Good For Heart

Study Links Tooth Loss and Heart Disease

A recent study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine has, once again, linked tooth loss in adults with a greater risk of developing heart disease.

Researchers analyzed the data from the 1999 to 2002 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, an ongoing telephone survey operated by state health agencies with assistance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The study was conducted based on 41,891 adults aged 40 to 79 years old in 22 states and the District of Columbia.

Study participants who still had all of their natural teeth, 4.7 percent had heart disease.

From there, risk of heart disease increased dramatically. Those who were missing one to five teeth were 21 percent more likely to have heart disease. Heart disease increased by 60 percent among those missing six to 31 teeth, and by 81 percent among those with no remaining natural teeth.

The results of this study join the growing body of research linking gum disease and tooth loss with an increased risk of heart disease.

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.

Periodontal Bacteria Linked to Respiratory Illness

Brushing Teeth As Important as Washing Hands to Avoid Respiratory Infections

Periodontal Bacteria Linked to Respiratory Illness

If you want to avoid getting a respiratory infection, be sure to wash your hands frequently, right? Simply washing hands isn’t the only way to keep respiratory infections at bay. Experts say that brushing teeth plays a major factor in avoiding respiratory infections.

According to the American Academy of Periodontology, periodontal disease of is contributing factor for respiratory diseases, noting that the bacteria that cause periodontal disease also negatively impact the immune system.

Bacterial respiratory infections are thought to be acquired through aspiration of fine droplets from the mouth and throat into the lungs. These droplets contain germs that can breed and multiply within the lungs to cause damage. Recent research suggests that bacteria found in the throat, as well as bacteria found in the mouth, can be drawn into the lower respiratory tract. This can cause infections or worsen existing lung conditions. People with respiratory diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, typically suffer from reduced protective systems, making it difficult to eliminate bacteria from the lungs.

The American Academy of Periodontology reported that, “Scientists have found that bacteria that grow in the oral cavity can be aspirated into the lung to cause respiratory diseases such as pneumonia, especially in people with periodontal disease. This discovery leads researchers to believe that these respiratory bacteria can travel from the oral cavity into the lungs to cause infection.”

The bacteria that are multiplying in the mouth are not only being used as factories for the viruses but are also being breathed into the susceptible lungs.

The same care that is necessary for avoiding periodontal disease – twice daily brushing and once daily flossing – is necessary for helping to lower the risk of respiratory infections in those with periodontal disease.

Study Links Hypertension, Periodontal Bacteria

More Research Regarding the Relationship Between Oral Health and Cardiovascular Health

Study Links Hypertension, Periodontal Bacteria

The hundreds of bacteria in the human mouth are there for a reason. Many of them are completely innocuous bacteria that like the conditions of the human mouth – it is, after all, warm, dark and wet, which are ideal conditions for growing many types of bacteria.

A handful of the bacteria in the mouth help support the health of teeth and gums. Another handful of bacteria found in the human mouth can be harmful not only to oral health, but to the health of the body as a whole.

Researchers believe that the true link between oral health and heart health lies in the balance of those bacteria.
A recent study published in the May 5, 2010 edition of the Journal of Hypertension revealed that those with significantly higher levels of periodontal bacteria in plaque samples of those with hypertension.

Seven investigators from Columbia University, the University of Miami, the University of Minnesota, and the French School of Public Health collected 4,533 subgingival plaque samples from 653 patients enrolled in the Oral Infections and Vascular Disease Epidemiology Study (INVEST). They analyzed the samples for the presence of 11 different species of periodontal bacteria, including Actinomyces naeslundii and Prevotella intermedia.

The researchers, led by Moise Desvarieux, M.D., Ph.D., found that the odds ratio for prevalent hypertension was 3.05 among the patients in the highest tertile of bacterial burden compared to those in the lowest tertile.

The team found that, after adjusting for conventional risk factors, the mean systolic blood pressure increased significantly with increasing cumulative bacterial burden, at 136, 138, and 143 mmHg for the first, second, and third tertile, respectively (p = 0.0004). The diastolic blood pressure also increased significantly, at 77, 79, and 81 mmHg, respectively.

The prevalence of hypertension was 57%, 62%, and 68%, respectively. This translated into more than threefold higher odds of hypertension between the third and first tertiles; after further adjustment for white blood cell count and titer of hs-CRP, this rose to 3.93. The increase between the first and third tertiles in both hypertension and diastolic blood pressure was more than twice as large for men as for women, while the increase in systolic blood pressure was nearly three times as large in men.