Linkage grows between heart and mouthCardiovascular disease (CVD) and periodontal disease are among the most prevalent conditions affecting adults today. Up to 80 million (one of every three) adults have cardiac disease. 38.2 million are under the age of 60. Periodontal disease affects as many as 75% of adults in the United States.Recent clinical studies confirm a strong connection between the two diseases. Desvarieux, et al. in 2005, studied the relationship between periodontal bacteria and atherosclerosis (increased carotid artery intima-media thickness; i.e., narrowing of the artery leading to ischemia and “heart attacks”). He found that periodontal infections can contribute to CVD morbidity (death) and that the chronic oral (periodontal) infection can be a possible mechanism causing CVD.In April 2009, Piconi, et al., published a study showing that treatment of periodontal disease resulted in improvement in atherosclerosis and reduced narrowing of the carotid artery (intima-media thickness). In laymen’s terms, treat the gum problems and even those already with heart disease can see improvements. The results clearly indicated a strict association existing between periodontal disease and atherosclerosis, suggesting that periodontal disease is an independent risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis and is a significant predisposition for the disease!

Does Fluoride Help Adults too?

Most definitely! A controlled study at Washington University showed that adults exposed to fluoridated water only after age 14 had on the average 6 fewer decayed or filled teeth than those with no exposure to fluoridated water.

In people who grew up on fluoridated water, the incidence of root area decay was shown to be substantially less than similar people who grew up without fluoridated water
.
In a recent New York study, the majority of dental patients surveyed believed incorrectly
that brushing alone will prevent decay.

The ADA recommends adults use fluoride daily in addition to toothpaste and professionally applied fluoride twice a year.

Successful treatment of periodontal disease lowered preterm birth incidences
Washington, DC, USA – Previous studies have explored the effect of periodontal treatment, irrespective of efficacy of treatment, in reducing infant prematurity. In a study titled "Risk of Preterm Birth Is Reduced with Successful Periodontal Treatment," lead researcher M. Jeffcott, and colleagues S. Parry and M. Sammel (all from the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia) and G. Macones (Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri) determined whether a reduction in infant prematurity was associated with successful periodontal treatment.
Pregnant subjects between 6 and 20 weeks gestation (using standard pregnancy dating criteria) were eligible for screening and enrollment. Eight hundred and seventy-two subjects with and without periodontal disease were followed. One hundred and sixty subjects with periodontal disease were treated with scaling and root planing. Subjects received periodontal examinations before and after scaling and root planing. Subjects were classified post-hoc according to the results of periodontal treatment: successful treatment ("non-exposure") or unsuccessful treatment ("exposure").
Groups were compared using standard bivariate statistics, odds ratios, and logistic regression analysis. Dichotomous outcomes were compared with chi-square where appropriate.
The primary study outcome for this clinical trial was the occurrence of spontaneous preterm birth <35 weeks. Subjects without periodontal disease had 7.2 percent rate of prematurity less than 35 weeks gestation; subjects with periodontal disease had 23.4 percent rate of prematurity <35 weeks gestation. Pregnant women who were refractory to scaling and root planing were significantly more likely to have preterm infants. Subjects who were successfully treated for their periodontal disease had a significantly lower incidence of preterm birth less than 35 weeks gestation.

USDA recommends no more than 10 teaspoons of sugar a day.
Average person consumes 22, 4 lb bags of sugar a year.

1 Nutrion Bar = 3 ¼ tsp sugar
2 Small Blueberry Muffins = 4 ½ tsp sugar
Ketchup (5 Tablespoons) = 5 tsp sugar
Cinnamon Rolls = 5 tsp sugar
Lucky Charms (bowl) = 6 tsp sugar
Gatorade (32 oz) = 14 tsp sugar
Coke (20 oz) = 16 ¼ tsp sugar
Grande Mocha Cappuccino (Star Bucks) = 13 tsp sugar
Pop Tart (2) = 17 tsp sugar
Yoplait Yogurt 6 oz = 7 tsp sugar
Chili’s Chocolate Lava Dessert = 42 tsp sugar

Brush Up On Your Heart Health
Oral health expert Dr. Edgard El Chaar addresses the perio-cardio connection and new health guidelines
New York, NY, February 1, 2010 /PRNewswire/ — If you have gum disease, you're not alone. Approximately 80 percent of American adults have some form of the disease. Gum (periodontal) diseases are chronic bacterial infections that affect the gums and supporting structures of the teeth and, if left untreated, can lead to serious health problems including heart disease. Researchers have found that people with periodontal disease are twice as likely to suffer from coronary artery disease compared to those without periodontal disease. In recognition of American Heart Month, health professionals across the country are raising awareness about the strong link between gum disease and cardiovascular disease.
Leading periodontist, Dr. Edgard El Chaar, DDS, MS, based in New York City, specializes in the prevention and treatment of gum disease and is an active advocate in educating patients about the perio-cardio connection and new treatment guidlines. These guidelines, part of a consensus paper recently published online in the American Journal of Cardiology and the Journal of Periodontology, suggest that managing one disease may significantly reduce the risk for the other. As a result of the paper, cardiologists are encouraged to perform oral health examinations and periodontists should inquire about their patients' heart health and family history of heart disease.
"There's no longer any question about the strong relationship between the two diseases, and patients with one condition should be checked immediately for the other," said Dr. El Chaar. "Researchers theorize that either the inflammation caused by periodontal disease increases plaque build-up and contributes to the swelling of the arteries, or that oral bacteria enters into the blood stream, attaches to fatty plaques in the heart blood vessels and contributes to clot formation, which may lead to heart attacks."
Heart disease is not the only health risk associated with periodontal disease. Clinical studies have linked gum disease to respiratory conditions, premature births and diabetes due to the bacteria in the mouth traveling throughout the body. Patients that experience symptoms such as bleeding, tender or receding gums or persistent bad breath should not only consult a periodontist, but consider discussing their symptoms with a primary care physician as well.

Dry Mouth
What do I Need to Know About Dry Mouth?
Everyone has a dry mouth once in a while — if they are nervous, upset or under stress.
But if you have a dry mouth all or most of the time, it can be uncomfortable and can lead to serious health problems.
Dry mouth ...
Can cause difficulties in tasting, chewing, swallowing, and speaking
Can increase your chance of developing dental decay and other infections in the mouth
Can be a sign of certain diseases and conditions
Can be caused by certain medications or medical treatments
Dry mouth is not a normal part of aging. So if you think you have dry mouth, see your dentist or physician — there are things you can do to get relief.

Some people do not want diagnostic x-rays because they have heard that the radiation is dangerous. In fact, they pose very little danger. There are currently two methods of measuring exposure to radiation.
The first and oldest unit of measure is called a rem. A rem is a large unit, so exposure to medical radiation is generally measured in millirems (mrem). (It takes a thousand millirems to make a rem.) Dental x-rays on the slowest speed film deliver about 4 mrem. (Most offices now use faster films which reduce radiation by a factor of 2-4, the average dose across the board being about 2 mrem per intraoral film.) Thus, using the slowest speed film, a full mouth series of dental x rays (18 intraoral films) delivers about 72 mrem. A panorex film delivers about 8 mrem. By comparison, according to the National council on radiation protection and measurements, the average person in the US is exposed to about 360 mrem per year just from background sources. By this measure, it would take approximately 5 full series of dental radiographs on the slowest speed film to equal the background radiation that the average citizen is exposed to on a yearly basis. Note that we take a new full series every three to five years on average. Most offices use faster film reducing the dose of radiation per film by about half. Offices using digital radiography reduce the radiation by even more.