DECEMBER Updated
Learn more about the Calcium
Crisis
|
Mistletoe
Kisses: Spreading
More than Holiday Tidings?
|
|
Exchanging kisses underneath the
mistletoe may leave holiday revelers with more than just
friendship and goodwill tidings. Passionate
partygoers may swap up to 500 different species of
germs, including those that cause gum disease, warns
the Academy of General Dentistry, an organization of
general dentists dedicated to continuing education.
"With just one kiss, this
infection can be passed between couples and even to
children," says Gordon Isbell, III, DMD, MAGD,
spokesperson for the Academy.
Gum disease,
a chronic inflammation and infection of the gums and
surrounding tissues, is:
In recent years, researchers have
found a possible connection between gum disease and
coronary vascular disease, which can place people at
risk for heart attacks and strokes. In individuals with
diabetes, gum disease is associated with poor control of
insulin levels. Pregnant women also need to be careful;
gum disease can place pregnant women at risk for having
low-birthweight babies.
"In the spirit of the season,
folks with gum disease should refrain from kissing under
the mistletoe," says Dr. Isbell.
Are you a candidate for gum disease?
Check for the following signs:
 | red, swollen or tender gums
|
| bleeding while brushing or flossing
|
| gums that pull away from teeth
|
| loose or separating teeth
|
| persistent bad breath
|
| change in the way teeth fit
together when the patient bites
|
| change in the fit of partial
dentures |
AGD December 7, 2001 |
Up
To Top
New help for oral herpes
Valtrex will be approved for oral herpes use
early next year. Valtrex is a more convenient dosage form of
anti-viral medication from the maker of Zovirex. A single
dose of Valtrex should be taken when the first tingling of
the skin is felt, signaling that an outbreak of oral herpes
ulcers is about to occur.
Stay in touch with your pharmacist to find
out exactly when Valtrex will be approved for this use, and
what the recommended dosage will be.
NOVEMBER
|
Burning
Mouth Syndrome-Rare
disorder often afflicts post-menopausal women |
An
older women may find:
| lips,
tongue and roof of her mouth hurt and feel
like they're burning |
| mouth is dry |
| thirsty |
| food taste funny |
| eating habits have changed |
| feeling irritable and
depressed |
A dental examination fails to
find any evidence of injury, such as burns from
a hot food or drink, or an infection of the
mouth.
Burning mouth syndrome can be
caused by the following conditions:
| anemia |
| leukemia |
| severe vitamin deficiency |
| undiagnosed diabetes |
| yeast or candida infection |
| symptom of various hormone
disorders |
| result of medications |
| overweight |
| hypoglycemic |
| dental work that doesn't
fit correctly |
| denture or a partial that
goes over the roof of the mouth and impinges
too tightly, in the front of the mouth,
behind the front teeth, if there's pressure
there, you can get a burning sensation |
| complicated as Sjogren's
Syndrome |
Because of a lack of physical
evidence, the syndrome is often
misdiagnosed
In 70 percent of cases,
an underlying cause is never found, and the best
that doctors and dentists can do is provide
relief from the pain and frustration of the
condition.
Treatment:
- As a woman gets older, or
when things in their life change, like
stress it may go away.
- Sugarless mints and chewing
gum can help
- Frequent drinks of water,
can help relieve the discomfort
- Anti-fungal medications
sometimes help, even when there's no
evidence of a yeast infection.
- Hormone-replacement therapy
may provide relief
- Antihistamines and
anti-depressants may help.
- Clonazepam, a medication
that's often used as an anticonvulsant can
help
- If the condition is severe
your dentist can prescribe a mixture of
Maalox, lidocaine to numb the mouth and
Benadry It's swished in the mouth to
numb it, and it can be swallowed if there
are ulcerations in the throat, so chewing
and eating is easier
- Taking lozenges
- Applying a cream made of
capsaicin, the natural chemical in cayenne
pepper, it acts on the nerve endings to
decrease the perception of pain.
AGD.
Pat CurryHealthScoutNews Reporter
|
Up
To Top
Gum Disease May Promote Other
Illnesses
|
E vidence suggests that oral infections,
particularly periodontal
disease, may play a role in chronic medical
problems.
Commonly known as gum disease,
periodontal disease is increasingly being blamed for
raising the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes
and preterm and low birth-weight babies.
One study of heart-attack
patients found that 85 percent also had periodontal
disease. In another, pregnant women with
the severest form of periodontal disease had an eightfold
risk of giving birth prematurely and a threefold
risk if they had a milder infection. Periodontal
disease has been shown to increases stroke risk 15
percent to 18 percent in whites, 38 percent in
African-Americans.
Despite such numbers, researchers
caution that they have yet to prove specifically that
oral infections cause disease. Still, most
dentists take special precautions when treating
patients who have heart problems or other ailments.
This includes prescribing preventive
antibiotics to kill bacteria.
Periodontal disease poses
special risks because it is so commonplace.
Seventy-five percent of adult
Americans have some degree of gum disease,
according to the American Dental Hygienists'
Association. In a report released last year, U.S.
Surgeon General David Satcher wrote simply, "You
cannot be healthy without oral health."
Mouth infections are particularly
dangerous because the gums are so vascular, meaning
they contain a lot of blood vessels very close to the
surface. So they serve as a convenient expressway to
the heart and other organs for havoc-causing
byproducts of the infection.
There also is the fear that any
dental work, even something as benign as cleaning
the teeth, can trigger the release of massive
amounts of these bacteria and byproducts into the
system. In people who already have heart problems,
this is thought to increase risk of heart attack.
Periodontal disease is particularly
insidious because the low-grade infection can
smolder for years before symptoms become apparent.
Unknown at this point is whether
clearing up the infection will have a beneficial
impact on overall health.
"We do know that diabetics
whose periodontal disease is treated have a 10
percent reduction in glycated hemoglobin," a
measure of long-term blood sugar levels. This can
reduce the incidence of diabetes-related side effects.
InteliHealth
|
OCTOBER
Up
To Top
Toothbrushing
People who have systemic,
localized or oral inflammatory diseases need to disinfect or
frequently replace their toothbrushes.
The Effects of Toothpastes on the
Residual Microbial Contamination of Toothbrushes - JADA The
Journal of the American Dental Association, September
2001:1241-1245 Warren;Goldschmidt;Thompson;Adler-Storthz;
Keene
Up
To Top
Dental
X-Rays May Reveal Stroke Risk in Women
A trip to the dentist for a woman 55 or older may yield
evidence about stroke risk.
Panoramic dental x-rays can reveal
calcifications in the carotid arteries, which increase a
person's risk of stroke.
In the study by Drs. Friedlander and Altman, panoramic
dental x-rays of 52 postmenopausal women aged 55 to 90 with no
prior history of heart attack or stroke were studied. Sixteen
(31%) of the women showed evidence of calcification in their
carotid arteries.
Women older than 55 who receive panoramic dental x-rays should
ask doctors to examine the x-rays for calcification in the
carotid arteries that would be consistent with blockage of
blood flow to the brain.
I was found that 94% of the women in this study were diagnosed
with high blood pressure, 50% were characterized as overweight
or obese, 38% were heavy smokers, and nearly 70% of the women
had high levels of blood fats including cholesterol.
More than 60% of the deaths in the United States attributed to
stroke occur in postmenopausal women.
As a woman's estrogen levels decrease after menopause, her
blood levels of cholesterol increase, which makes her more
vulnerable for build-up of arterial plaque.
These plaque deposits, which collect in the inner lining of
the artery, contain fatty substances such as cholesterol,
cellular waste products, calcium and other substances. Plaques
may grow large enough to reduce blood flow through an artery.
They can also become fragile and rupture. Plaques that rupture
form blood clots that can block blood flow or break off and
travel to another part of the body. If a clot blocks a blood
vessel that feeds the brain, a stroke can result.
SOURCE: Journal of the American Dental Association
2001;132:1130-1136.
Up
To Top
Dental Dots-This is a
fingertip tooth cleaner with build-in toothpaste for times you
need to clean your teeth away from home. Consumer
Reports On Health Sept 2001 pg 9, found them to work best
when they are moistened with water before scrubbing your
teeth. It is a "reasonable product to use for
after-meal, vacation or airplane tooth brushing. but this
fingertip cleaner is NOT a substitute for a toothbrush.
They sell for $5.00 for a package of 18.
Up
To Top
Heart attack-related
protein tied to gum disease
(Reuters
Health) - Patients with severe gum disease are more likely to
produce an inflammatory response that may place them at elevated
risk of suffering a heart
attack, researchers report.
"Patients with severe forms of periodontal
disease have elevated levels of C-reactive protein
compared to patients without periodontal disease,"
author Dr. Ernesto De Nardin.
One theory is that heart attacks occur when a
build-up of fats and cells known as vulnerable plaque breaks
loose and clogs one of the arteries leading to the heart. High
levels of C-reactive protein may somehow be involved in this
process.
The researchers theorize that people living
with a chronic infection such as gum disease may produce higher
levels of C-reactive protein, which could place them at higher
risk of heart attack.
In this study, investigators compared 59
people with moderate periodontal disease, 50 people with
advanced periodontal disease and 65 people with little to no
periodontal disease.
They found that 38% of those with severe
periodontal disease had levels of C-reactive protein that had
been associated with an increased risk of heart disease,
compared with only 17% of those without periodontal disease.
The investigators also found that those who
had one, two or several strains of microbes that cause
periodontal disease were more likely to have elevated levels of
C-reactive protein than those who had no strains of the
microbes.
"Nobody says (if) you don't brush your
teeth, you're going to die of heart disease," De Nardin
said. "This is one of many risk factors that can contribute
to an already-existing underlying cause. But it makes it even
more significant to see a dentist regularly."
Health Center Sept 28,
01
Up
To Top
SEPTEMBER
Cavities Might Someday Heal Themselves
A "remineralizing filling
material" called amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP)
may be the best news ever for dental patients. Researchers
say the compound not only helps prevent cavities but also
helps small, existing cavities heal on their own.
"ACP is already being used in some
applications in dental offices," according to Dr. Joe
Antonucci, a research chemist at the National Institute of
Standards and Technology in Gaithersburg, MD.
"At least 50% of all fillings are
replaced because of recurrent tooth decay," he
said. Ideally, dentists would apply ACP to the surface of
the tooth as they filled existing cavities, so that
"new cavities may be minimized or prevented." The
compound could have other applications as well--as an
"adhesive cement" to help braces adhere to the
tooth surface, as a root canal sealant, or as a means of
reducing painful tooth sensitivity
Smart Practice
Up
To Top
CDC Releases Fluoride Usage Guidelines:
Fluoride was named by the Centers for
Disease Control (CDC) as one of the 10 greatest public
health milestones of the 20th century for its contribution to
oral health, lack of fluoridated water leaves 100 million
Americans at higher risk for dental disease. A comprehensive
report was just released: Recommendations for Using Fluoride
to Prevent and Control Dental Caries in the United States.
Up
To Top
Foods to Smile About
Good oral health isn't only about brushing
your teeth and avoiding sweets. It's also about eating a
diverse diet.
Research suggests that some
foods may inhibit the growth of plaque-causing bacteria that can
lead to cavities and oral disease. Onions, shiitake mushrooms,
cheese, and foods rich in polyphenols, such as herbs, nuts, and
teas, are all thought to possess this plaque-fighting feature.
RealAge Benefit: Flossing and brushing your teeth daily can make
your RealAge as much as 6.4 years younger
Up
To Top
September 2001 is National Cholesterol Education
Month (http://www.nhlbisupport.com/cholmonth/ )
from the National Cholesterol
Education Program (NCEP) . This year's Web-based kit contains
a wealth of educational materials.
Up
To Top
Smart'
fillings that release cavity-fighting components such as calcium
and phosphate.
"Smart fillings look very
much like current composites and
match the appearance of [tooth] enamel quite well," says
Joseph Antonucci, PhD, a research chemist at the National
Institute of Standards and Technology in Gaithersburg, Md.
"They would act to prevent formation of secondary or
recurrent cavities that can occur on or around conventional
fillings."
The ingredient used in these
fillings is amorphous calcium phosphate,
or ACP. It helps promote remineralization. This powdered
substance is also found in some toothpastes and Trident
Advantage™ and Trident for
Kids™ chewing gums.
Smart Fillings
|
to
counteract the demineralization that occurs when kids have
braces attached to teeth. |
|
used as
a desensitizer for teeth that are sensitive to cold and
heat. |
|
in reduction in future
cavities to prevent new cavities from forming |
|
to repair early damage that
may have already occurred. |
|
for patients that are
especially susceptible to cavities, such as people who have
undergone radiation therapy or chemotherapy. |
They are reported to be
safe. The composition of this material is very similar
to existing composites and the added active ingredients are
minerals normally found in teeth, bones, and saliva.
Up
To Top
ROCKVILLE, MD — Biologists at The
Institute for Genomic Research (TIGR) in Rockville, MD in
collaboration with The Forsyth Institute in Boston, MA, have
completed the sequence from Porphyromonas gingivalis, the
first oral disease-causing microbe to be completely sequenced. Porphyromonas
gingivalis is a bacterium, which may cause adult
periodontitis, or gum disease. The Centers for Disease
Control estimates that millions of Americans suffer from
periodontitis, which is a chronic infectious disease of the gums
and underlying bony tissues. Without treatment, periodontitis or
gum disease can destroy tissue and result in tooth loss.
The sequencing project, under the direction of
Dr. Robert Fleischmann at TIGR along with Drs. Margaret Duncan
and Floyd Dewhirst at The Forsyth Institute, was funded by the
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR),
part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
"The results of this sequencing project
will provide new insights into how Porphyromonas gingivalis
colonizes and becomes the dominant oral flora in individuals
with severe gum disease. The genome information will provide new
targets for prevention and cure of periodontal disease in
adults," said Dr. Fleischmann.
This new sequencing data is posted on
the Internet on TIGR’s Comprehensive Microbial Resource (CMR)
website at http://www.tigr.org/tigr-scripts/CMR2/CMRHomePage.spl.
TIGR’s CMR database makes it freely available to researchers
worldwide.
Up
To Top
AUGUST
Invisible Braces?
Invisalign is the "invisible braces"
system created by Align Technology. It promises perfect
smiles without the embarrassment of traditional metal
braces.
The system cost considerably more than
traditional orthodontic treatment and works on a slim
minority of cases. This service was only available
through orthodontist however a new system is now available
through your general dentist.
Inline Orthodontics is a new group that is
training general dentist to use the invisible braces
system. So look for your family dentist to be able to
provide you with invisible braces.
AGD Impact, August/September 2001 pg 2
Up
To Top
Oral
cancer outreach begins in
September by A.D.A.
Up
To Top
Long
in the Face?
Facial Structure Predicts Overall Health Problems
Having
trouble with your sinuses? It may come as a surprise to
people that a dentist -- rather than a physician -- may
be their best bet for treating symptoms associated with
a number of common ailments. In fact, manipulating the
upper and lower jaw structures can alleviate a host of health
problems, such as respiratory disorders, migraine headaches, ear
aches, temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD), sinusitis,
allergies, hearing loss and sleep disorders, among others.
Ideal facial proportions are universal regardless of race, sex
and age, and
are based on a numerical value of 1 to 1.618. For example,
if the width of
the face from cheek to cheek is 10 inches, then the length
of the face from
the top of the head to the bottom of the chin should be 16.18
inches to be in
ideal proportion.
The further away a person's face is from the ideal proportions
and profile,
the more likely that person will have certain medical problems,
especially
sinus problems and migraines."
Studies indicate that people who have long faces tend to have
problems
breathing through their nose. When the face is long
and narrow, the sinus
cavities tend to be narrow, inhibiting airflow. Consequently,
these people
tend to breathe through their mouth -- a contributing factor for
some people
who snore or who suffer from sleep apnea. Mouth breathers
also tend to have
narrow mouths and crooked teeth. Orthodontic appliances
widen the face and
mouth, which in turn widen the sinus cavities, allowing people
to breath more
easily through their nose.
Abnormal jaw development causes people with shorter faces to
experience
excessive pressure on the jaw joint. Because their jaws
are positioned in a
manner that can restrict blood flow to the brain, many people
with short
faces suffer from headaches.
Anyone interested in improving their facial appearance and
health should
consider first visiting a dentist who is knowledgeable in
orthodontics and
TMD therapy,
AGD
and GenR8tnext
Up
To Top
View DenTrek's new Animated
Dental Learning Modules on white fillings, implants, crowns
and how to floss. They are informative, quick and to the point!
Up
To Top
JULY
Dentists are leading source of
information on oral health
Findings from ADA's
Public Opinion Survey By
James Berry
Almost 44 percent of adults
surveyed last year counted their dentist as the primary source
of information on dental health issues and problems.
Lagging well behind the dentist
as sources of oral health knowledge were consumer magazines (10
percent), the Internet (6.2 percent), television (4.4 percent)
and family members (4.2 percent).
Of those who use the Internet for health
information, the highest percentage (40.4 percent) are seeking
facts on a specific disease; 27.7 percent are looking for
general health information; 14.4 percent seek general dental
information; and 8 percent are researching a specific dental
procedure.
Just 12.8 percent of respondents said their most
recent dental visit was an emergency; 87.2 percent said their
most recent visit was a routine appointment.
About nine out of 10 respondents (90.1
percent) said they thought the time it took to arrange a dental
appointment was “reasonable”; about two-thirds (66.2
percent) were able to get an appointment within a month, 29.4
percent within a week.
The average amount paid for dental services
last year was $578 for all respondents, $668 for respondents
with insurance and $439 for the uninsured
Resource ADA Today's News.
Up
To Top
Vaccine For Tooth
Decay
Researchers at The Forsyth Institute have
discovered a potentially important antigen for a vaccine against
tooth decay.
The antigen contained four protein pieces --
two copies each of two protein strips from an enzyme called
glucosyltransferase (GTF), an important part of the decay
process. A group of bacteria called mutans streptococci produce
this enzyme, which is involved in breaking down sugar in the
mouth and helping the bacteria stick to tooth surfaces.
This combination antigen produced the highest
antibody levels, high enough to provide protection against
decay. This research is a step toward a possible vaccine for
tooth decay, which dentists refer to as dental caries.
"We have some very good clues as to when
this vaccine should be administered to people," said
Taubman. "Children are
initially colonized with mutans streptococci between 19 and 36
months of age. Teeth come in at 6 months. We could interfere
by immunizing at an early age, somewhere between one and
one-and-a-half years of age."
Research has established that children
usually receive mutans streptococci from their mothers, but
vaccinating mothers would be less effective, said Taubman.
"In adults who are already colonized, you
can't really eliminate (the bacteria). The levels will drop, but
they eventually come back," he said.
The researchers have approval for human
clinical trials of a vaccine, and are looking for a partner or
support to produce it. They are focusing on mucosal vaccines,
which can be painted on or squirted into the nose, because they
are easy to administer, cause fewer side effects, and are
targeted to areas near the mouth.
By Nancy Volkers InteliHealth News
Service
Up
To Top
If Mom Chews Gum, Children Have Healthier Mouths
|
|
| Researchers in Finland
reported six-year results of a study that tested whether
mothers who chew gum
sweetened with xylitol are less likely to transmit
cavity-causing bacteria to their children.
The study originally enrolled 195
pregnant women whose mouths had high levels of Streptococcus
mutans, known to be a major cause of tooth
decay. The women were divided into three groups:
| The xylitol group began chewing xylitol-sweetened
gum three months after giving birth and
continued for 21 months, until their children were 2
years old. Xylitol is a natural sweetener.
|
| The fluoride group received fluoride
varnish treatments at 6, 12 and 18 months after
giving birth.
|
| The chlorhexidine
group received a chlorhexidine varnish (an
antiseptic) at 6, 12 and 18 months after giving
birth. |
Six years after the women gave birth
-- several years after the treatments stopped -- their
children were tested for the presence of the
cavity-causing bacteria. Children whose mothers chewed
xylitol gum had significantly lower levels of these
bacteria in their mouths than did children in the other
two groups. S. mutans generally is passed from
mothers to children when they are between 6 and 31
months old. Higher levels of bacteria in a child's mouth
increase the risk of tooth decay.
The results were published in the
May-June issue of Caries Research.
Research published last year from the
same study found that at 5 years of age, the children
whose mothers had chewed xylitol gum had 70 percent less
dental decay, compared with children whose mothers
received the varnish treatments.
Xylitol has received a lot of
attention in recent years as studies have shown that chewing
xylitol-sweetened gum can slow the buildup of plaque
on the teeth and inhibit the formation of cavities.
Other sweeteners don't have the same effect.
By Nancy Volkers InteliHealth News
Service Up
To Top |
June
A.D.A. New Ad Campaign
against oral cancer:
To learn more about oral cancer
visit: Oral Cancer Index
HRT Does Not Increase a Woman's Risk of TMD
Researchers at the University of Texas Health
Science Center refute the association between female hormones
and the development of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs). TMDs
afflict an estimated 12 million Americans, and are two to five
times more common in women
than men. "Absolutely no link" was found
between taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and the
development of TMD symptoms.
Source: Smart Practice
Up To Top
Adults should monitor
kids' tooth-brushing
Many young
children who consider brushing their teeth a chore may try to
avoid it at all costs. But few succeed, according to the results
of a recent survey.
More than half of 1,000 adults surveyed said
they monitor the brushing habits of the kids in the house
However, the 45% of respondents who said they
do not keep watch while kids brush used other techniques to
encourage dental hygiene--including bribery and threats of
taking away their children's TV privileges. Some even said that
they just ignored their children and hoped that they would take
up the habit on their own.
People who don't supervise should consider
supervising. Watching how kids brush is important, because the
typical child's "brushing patterns don't encourage complete
plaque removal."
(Reuters
Health)
Up To Top
Black
tea helps prevent cavities. Dental plaque contains
more than 300 species of bacteria that adhere to tooth surfaces
and produce cavity-causing acid. Plaque is also a leading cause
of gum disease. several doses of black tea every day not only
reduced plaque build-up but also helped control bacteria. A
specific element of black tea, polyphenols, killed or suppressed
cavity-causing bacteria from either growing or producing acid.
The tea also affected the bacterial enzymes and prevented the
formation of the sticky material that binds plaque to teeth. Of
course, to help prevent cavities the tea must truly be
"black," without sugar, milk, honey or other
additives. Researchers also stressed drinking black tea should
not replace traditional oral hygiene. And while black tea may
fight cavities, it does not combat tooth stains. It is going to
stain [people's] teeth, but at least we know it's good for oral
health. Source: Healthcentral
Up To Top
Tea Fights Cavities, Reduces Plaque (American
Society for Microbiology) - Drinking tea may help fight
cavities. A group of researchers from the University of
Illinois College of Dentistry believe that black tea and its
components benefit oral health by interfering with the harmful
plaque bacteria in the mouth that cause gum disease and
cavities. Compounds in black tea were capable of killing or
suppressing growth and acid production of cavity-causing
bacteria in dental plaque. Black tea also affects the bacterial
enzyme glucosyltranferase which is responsible for converting
sugars into the sticky matrix material that plaque uses to
adhere to teeth. In addition, certain plaque bacteria, upon
exposure to black tea, lost their ability to form the clumpy
aggregates with other bacteria in plaque, thereby reducing the
total mass of the dental plaque. Drinking tea may have
added oral health benefits by controlling through 'prevention'
the most prevalent diseases of mankind, mainly caries and
periodontal disease. Resource: Intelihealth
Up To
Top
May
Mouthwash May Help Against Cancer
|
|
| A gene-therapy mouthwash
shows promise of warding off oral cancer by destroying
ominous growths before they turn malignant.
The idea is to attack these
pre-malignant patches by unleashing viruses that have been
programmed to kill cells that contain cancer-causing
genes.
Over the past two decades, scientists
have learned that all cancer arises from genetic defects,
often a half-dozen or more, that accumulate over a
lifetime, causing cells to grow rampantly and spread
through the body.
With this insight came the belief that
it might be possible to target these bad genes to stop
cancer.
White or red patches in the mouth,
so-called dysplastic lesions, frequently are a forerunner
of malignancy, and they are common in smokers and heavy
drinkers.
Cohen and colleagues at M.D. Anderson
Cancer Center in Houston and the University of California
at San Francisco tested a gene-therapy mouthwash developed
by Onyx Pharmaceuticals, which financed the study.
The treatment consists of adenovirus, a
kind of cold virus, that lacks a working copy of one gene
that ordinarily allows the virus to infect cells with good
p53 genes. Without this gene, it should infect only cells
with damaged p53 genes. In theory, at least, the crippled
virus will enter these precancerous cells and kill them.
Doctors are giving patients the
flavorless mouthwash once a week for 12 weeks. Those who
respond get another 12 weeks of treatment.
So far, the patches have disappeared
completely in two of the 10 treated, one of them for
nearly six months. They have partially cleared up in two
others.
``It makes sense, but it is very, very
preliminary,'' commented Dr. Barbara Conley of the
National Cancer Institute. ``But the good part is that it
is not toxic or onerous. It's a mouthwash.''
Source Intelihealth May 2000
Up To Top
|
Academy Recommends New
Limits On Fruit Juice For Kids
Fruit juice should not be given to
infants under 6 months, and older children's consumption should
be limited, too, to avoid diarrhea, cavities, malnourishment
and obesity, says the nation's largest group of
pediatricians.
Many parents give their youngsters fruit juice
but in finicky eaters, too much juice may replace more important
nutrients, and in other children it adds calories that can
contribute to obesity.
A 6-ounce glass of 100 percent fruit juice
equals one serving of fruit. But juice lacks the fiber of whole
fruit and offers no nutritional advantage over it, the academy
of pediatric said. In addition, juice's high carbohydrate
content can cause diarrhea.
Fruit juice offers no nutritional benefit for
infants under 6 months. After that, it should be given only to
children old enough to drink from a cup because putting juice
in bottles prolongs exposure of teeth to sugars that can cause
cavities, the academy said.
Children ages 1 to 6 should drink no more
than 4 to 6 ounces of juice daily. Those ages 7 through 18
should have no more than two 6-ounce servings daily, and all
children should be encouraged to eat whole fruits, the
academy said.
Up To Top
Copyright 2001 The Associated Press. All
rights reserved
May is National Hepatitis Awareness Month:
Get tested for HCV
Hepatitis C is now called the SILENT DRAGON
because most people infected with HCV are asymptomatic. HCV
may be transmitted by using razors, needles, toothbrushes,
nail files, a barber's scissors, tattooing equipment, body
piercing, or acupuncture needles if contaminated by the blood
of an infected person. Infection by the hepatitis C virus can
be determined only by a specific blood test that detects
antibodies against HCV. This test is not part of a routine
physical. Health care workers, should request a
hepatitis C test from their physician.
Up To Top
No Mouth Defense Sends Player
to Hospital.
Wearing a mouthguard could have
prevented Indiana State's Kelyn Block from being called a
"tooth guy". He had three lower teeth knocked
out or chipped by another player's elbow during a basketball
game. He had to have three root canals. If he had
been wearing a mouthguard this
could have been prevented.
Why not wear a mouthguard. The total rehabilitation
cost for a single knocked out tooth are more than 20 times the
cost of a quality professional mouthguard
and lifetime dental rehabilitation costs can exceed $15,000 per
loss tooth....
|
An athlete is 60 times
more likely to sustain damage to teeth when not wearing a
mouthguard |
|
Almost one third of all
dental injuries are due to sports-related accidents |
|
During a single athletic
season athletes have a 10% chance of suffering a facial or
dental injury |
|
The most commonly injured
tooth is the top front tooth, which receives 80% of all
dental trauma |
|
A mouthguard can prevent
concussions, cerebral hemorrhages, incidents of
unconsciousness, jaw fractures and neck injuries |
Robert E Roesch, DDS, MAGD April
2001, Academy of General Dentistry
Up To
Top
April
Monitor Infant's Fluoride Intake
If you add fluoridated water to your infant's
baby formula, you
may be putting your child at risk of developing
dental
fluorosis, according to the Academy of General
Dentistry.
Although all water and foods contain some
natural fluoride, a
baby's developing teeth are sensitive to higher
fluoride levels.
Fluorosis, a harmless cosmetic condition
manifested by brown
mottled or discolored enamel, may occur if your
child is
regularly exposed to fluoride levels higher
than 1 ppm (parts
per million).
Though breast milk and most ready-to-feed
formulas contain
infant-safe fluoride levels, parents must be
careful with
concentrate formulas that require adding water.
Community water
or well sources often contain fluoride levels
higher than 1 ppm.
When formula concentrations need to be diluted,
it is
recommended parents use low fluoride bottled
distilled water
(labeled as "purified" or
"distilled baby water") or tap water
with a reverse osmosis home water filtration
system attached
that removes most of the fluoride.
"If your child's teeth develop brown
spots, visit your dentist
to check for fluorosis." says James
Tennyson, DDS, member of the
Academy of General Dentistry. "It also
could signal tooth decay,
in which case your child may be prescribed
fluoride
supplements."
"If you correct a fluorosis problem in
your child's first
primary teeth," says Dr. Tennyson,
"your child probably won't
have a problem when the permanent teeth erupt
at age five or
six."
Dr. Tennyson also recommends checking your
water source's
fluoride levels by collecting a fresh sample in
a sterile
container and taking it to your local health or
water
department. Or, your dentist may be able to
test your sample if
his office has a colorimeter, which can
determine the
concentration of fluoride by comparing the
sample to a standard.
Pat RDH
Up To Top
The Dental Caries Consensus
Conference
Results: A Consensus Development
Conference on the Diagnosis and Management of Dental Caries
Throughout Life, convened by the National Institutes of Health
here March 26-28. They announced dental
caries disease remains a
major public health problem, the panel found.
Nearly 20 percent of children between the ages
of 2 and 4 have experienced dental caries, and by the age of 17
almost 80 percent of young people have had at least one
cavity. More than two-thirds of adults between the ages
of 35 to 44 have lost at least one permanent tooth due to dental
caries, and one-fourth of those aged 65 to 74 have lost all of
their natural teeth.
Current data support treatment
options including: fluorides, dental sealants; combinations of
chlorhexidine, fluoride, and sealants; and health education. They
acknowledged that water fluoridation and the use of fluoridated
toothpastes are highly successful in preventing dental caries.
They also determined that there is evidence to support the use
of fluoride varnishes in permanent teeth, as well as fluoride
gels, chlorhexidine gels, sealants and chewing gum containing
xylitol, a sugar substitute. Combined interventions may be more
effective in preventing caries in children.
According to the evidence
presented, the most consistent predictor of caries risk in
children is past caries experience. Low socioeconomic status is
also associated with higher caries rates.
The full NIH Consensus Statement on Diagnosis
and Management of Dental Caries Throughout Life is available by
calling 1-888-NIH-CONSENSUS or through the NIH
Consensus Development Program Web site.
Up To
Top
The
Last Straw
If a bottle of fruit juice or a
can of cola is a regular part of your day, be sure to save your
smile by using a straw.
The less time your teeth spend
in contact with tooth-eroding substances, the healthier they
will be. According to research, using a drinking straw
positioned toward the back of the mouth significantly reduces a
fluid's contact time with not only your anterior teeth but also
your molars.
RealAge Benefit: Flossing and brushing your teeth daily can make
your RealAge as much as 6.4
years younger. Up
To Top
Heavenly
Healing
Does prayer have the power to
heal? No one knows for sure, but research suggests that a little
spiritual help probably doesn't hurt.
In a recent review of
scientific studies examining distant healing practices, over
half of the studies indicated that a patient's healing process
was helped when prayer, therapeutic touch, or mental or
spiritual healing was practiced by the patient, friends, or
family.
RealAge Benefit: Taking
care of your emotional health and well-being can make your
RealAge up to 16 years younger. Up
To Top
Real Age Report:
According to recent studies,
regularly drinking tap water that has been treated with fluoride
can help increase bone mineral density and may protect against
breakage. Maintaining your bone density as you age helps to
prevent osteoporosis.
RealAge Benefit: Actively
patrolling your health can make your RealAge as much as 12 years
younger.
Up To Top
Can You Re-Catch Colds From A Toothbrush?
There is a literature claiming you can re-catch strep throat from re-using your own toothbrush.
But a cold virus, I would suspect, is different. First of all, when you get a cold you should be immune forever to that particular virus.
So the next time you're getting a cold, you're getting a different virus.
I also doubt that a virus would survive too long on a toothbrush after it dries.
I think you can catch diseases from someone else's toothbrush. But this is not common. It would have to be wet, it would have to be certain kinds of diseases, etc., and certainly no worse than you'd get from kissing someone.
So I don't think the toothbrush as a vector of disease is a big deal. But I've seen doctors recommend that families with strep throat change toothbrushes to avoid re-catching it.
Source: Health Center.
Up To Top
Possible Link Between Passive Smoking
and Periodontal Disease.
Research has shown that individuals who
have never smoked but where exposed to environmental tobacco smoke in
their homes or at work has a 1.5 times higher risk of getting periodontal
disease than for people not exposed.
Source: Am J Public Health 2001, 91 (2):2
Up To Top
February 2001
This Month is National
Dental Health Month!
"Support a Winning
Smile"!
Visit A.G.D. toll free
number to find a dentist in your area.
Holy Molars!
Calcium
can protect those pearly whites, too.
Getting
an adequate supply of calcium each day can reduce your risk of periodontal
disease. In one study, people who consumed less than 500 milligrams of
calcium per day were 50% more likely to develop periodontal disease than
people who consumed at least 800 milligrams of calcium per day.
RealAge Benefit: Flossing and
brushing your teeth daily can make your RealAge as much as 6.4 years
younger Up
To Top
Is there something in saliva that heals wounds?
Yes, say the scientists at the National Institute of
Dental and Craniofacial Research. Saliva contains a multi-purpose protein
called secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor -- SLPI -- which has
"anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial
properties". Up
To Top
Source: National Institute of Dental and
Craniofacial Research News Release, January 16, 2000
One in Seven 26-Year Olds Has Periodontal
According to a report by the American
Academy of Periodontology, about one in
seven 26-year olds already has well-established periodontal disease,
the leading cause of tooth loss in adults. Nearly 75 percent of those in the study had
receding gums at least one site. Because
most studies and information on gum disease
focus on middle-aged and older people, this study
is important. Source:
Smart
Practice
Diabetes Rates Rise Another 6 Percent in 1999 Up
To Top
Diabetes Rate Rose 6%
Diabetes
rates rose a striking 6.0 percent among adults in 1999 according to researchers at the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The new
findings are reported in the February issue of Diabetes Care.
This dramatic new evidence signals the unfolding
of an epidemic in the United States," said Dr.
Jeffrey Koplan, director of CDC.
Approximately 800,000 new cases of diabetes are
diagnosed each year. It is the seventh leading
cause of death in this country and a major contributor to serious
health problems
such as heart disease, stroke, blindness, high blood
pressure, kidney disease, and amputations{ (and Gum Disease) webmaster's
addition}
Up
To Top
The Mouth of
Mirth
Looking for something to smile
about? The tangy bite of oranges, mangoes, and strawberries may help keep
your teeth intact.
Studies have
revealed that the vitamin C contained in such fruits can help stave off
gum disease and tooth loss. Researchers suspect that vitamin C may inhibit
an inflammatory response that sets the stage for gum disease.
RealAge Benefit: Getting the right amount of the antioxidant vitamins C
and E can make your RealAge 6 years younger.
To learn more about this tip, click
here Up
To Top
Courtesy of RealAge
January 2001
Can You Eat Your Way to a Healthier Mouth?
Speculative Food claims:
The latest news suggest that foods may help fight
tooth decay, periodontal disease or even oral cancer!
The New York Times
reported Dec 26 that wasabi, a pungent green horseradish served with sushi may
contain compounds that kill caries-inducing streptococcus mutans by curbing
bacterial growth.
Hebrew University of Jerusalem was reported to
have found that lycopene in tomato may kill oral cancer cells in culture.
.
Cranberries may help curb dental plaque
build up by preventing bacteria from colonizing on the gums. Don't rinse
with the juice because of its high acid content.
Chocolate is suppose to fight cavities.
When you hear these claims, keep a skeptical eye
on dietary trends that make such claims. All the above need further
research to prove them as true or accurate.
ADA warns not to read too much into such
research: "What is effective in test tubes may not affect anything at all
in the mouth." What is required is to show that these items really
have a health benefit in humans, not just in laboratories or animals.
A.D.A.NEWS James Berry 1/2001
Up To
Top
New Research finds Link Between Gum Disease
and Acute Heart Attacks
American Heart
Association presented research that "presence of gum disease might INCREASE
THE RISK OF A SECOND HEART ATTACK in people with a history of heart
disease." Periodontal disease, gum disease, initiate an immune
response called an inflammatory response in the body leading to high CRP levels
which may possibly put these individuals at risk for future heart attacks..
Dr. Deliargyris said "It seems that the presence of periodontal disease on
top of a heart attack has a synergistic effect and a very accentuated CRP
release".
Dentistry Today 12/2000
Up To
Top
USDA: Most Popular Diets Flawed
WASHINGTON (AP) - Most popular diets help people drop pounds
initially, but only traditional moderate-fat, high-carbohydrate
regimens seem to keep dieters slim, according to the first
major
review of popular diets by the federal government.
``This basically tells you that you can lose weight on any of
the diets, if you keep your calories down ,the trick is how you
maintain that weight loss.'' The American
Heart Association and Weight Watchers - have the best
scientific evidence to back up their success rates and health claims. They recommend consuming no more than 30 percent of
calories as fat, limiting protein to about 20 percent of the diet and consuming more fruits, vegetables and complex carbohydrates to help satisfy hunger with fewer calories. They are the most nutritionally adequate and showed some of the best improvements in blood levels of the most dangerous cholesterol and blood fats and in blood sugar control, the
study found.
USDA/ARS/BA/BHNRC/Food Surveys Research Group
* AGD Impact,
April 2001
Up
To Top
|
