Gum disease is Contagious

From AAP web site
Families and Periodontal Disease
Periodontal (gum) disease may be passed from parents to children and between a couple
Several recent studies support the association between periodontal (gum) disease and family members:
Periodontal (gum) disease may be passed from parents to children and between a couple, according to an article in the September 1997 issue of the Journal of the American Dental Association. Researchers suggest bacteria that cause periodontal disease pass though saliva. This means that the common contact of saliva in families puts children and couples at risk for contracting the periodontal disease of another family member. Periodontal disease can lead to tooth loss.M
Up to 30% of the population may be genetically susceptible to developing severe periodontal disease, according to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology. These findings could result in the early identification and treatment of at-risk patients.
Based on this research, The American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) recognizes that treatment of gum disease may involve entire families. If one family member has periodontal disease, the AAP recommends that all family members see a dental professional for a periodontal disease screening.

LANAP in the NEWS

This is Dr Robert Gregg speaking on LANAP with ABC NEWS






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Brushing teeth boosts sperm count

Brushing teeth boosts sperm count
Mar 2009


Brushing your teeth twice a day can boost your sperm count. That's according to the British Dental Health Foundation (BDHF) who have advised reaching for a toothbrush after research found that infertile men are far more likely to suffer from gum disease. A study of 56 men aged between 23-52 by the Bikur Holim Hospital, Jerusalem, and the Hebrew University Hadassah School of Dental Medicine found that more than half the men with low sperm counts or no sperm at all displayed developed gum disease.

The BDHF will begin its annual National Smile Month campaign on 17 May 2009, highlighting gum disease's links to overall health under the slogan: ‘Look after yourself, brush for health'.Gum disease has been linked to heart disease, diabetes and strokes and now infertility.

Chief executive of the Foundation Dr Nigel Carter said: ‘Brushing your teeth may not sound sexy, but this study shows its importance to male fertility. Factor in the benefits of good oral health for an attractive smile and to stop bad breath and it's time men picked up their toothbrush.' The Israeli study showed that half the men suffered from gingivitis, and two thirds of these men had low sperm counts. Gingivitis causes inflammation characterised by bleeding gums and soreness.One third of the men suffered periodontal disease, which affects the tissues supporting the teeth and can lead to tooth loss. Half of the men with no sperm count had chronic periodontal disease.

LANAP DENTIST

Periodontist and LANAP

This is one of my favorite Videos. This is Tom McCawley a periodontist, past President of Periodontists Society. He was the second author on the Chalie Cob paper that showed lasers burned roots. In Tom's words Charlie falsified the results. Charlie is also the spokes hole for the AAP regarding Lasers and Periodontics. Charlie has been exposed as a liar on Dentaltown.

Gum Disease linked to Dementia

MORGANTOWN, Va., June 24 (UPI) -- Brushing teeth and flossing may not only reduce gum disease and stroke but memory loss, U.S. researchers suggest.

In an ongoing study, researchers at West Virginia University in Morgantown gave oral exams, memory tests and, if subjects agreed, a blood test to 270 people age 70 or older in more than a dozen West Virginia counties.

The researchers found about 23 percent of the group suffers from mild to moderate memory loss".

We're looking for markers in the blood that show inflammation to see if there is a link to memory problems," one study researcher, Dr. Richard Crout, said in a statement.
It is not yet understood whether mouth microorganisms create health problems or whether the body's inflammatory response is to blame. Crout said it may be a combination.
However, the connection between severe dementia and gum disease is already well-known, although clinicians often do not realize gum disease affects memory, Crout said.
"Older people might want to know there's more reason to keep their mouths clean -- to brush and floss -- than ever," Crout said in a statement. "You'll not only be more likely to keep your teeth, but you'll also reduce your risk of heart attack, stroke and memory loss."

Gum disease treatment in Los Angeles

Diabetes: It's Connection to Oral Health

Here is an interesting article. Article

Diabetic patients are at greater risk for tooth decay due to the presence of higher bacteria levels found in saliva when diabetes is not under control. As diabetes can lower resistance to infection, periodontal disease can develop.

A Good Dentist Sees More Than Molars

Here is an interesting article in The Washington Post.

Article

Patient experience with LANAP

This patient relates her experience with Lanap (Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure).

LANAP DENTIST LOS ANGELES

More than 50% With Rheumatoid Arthritis Have Periodontitis

Over half (56%) of people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) also have periodontitis (a chronic inflammatory disease of the gum and surrounding ligaments and bones that hold the teeth in place), displaying fewer teeth than healthy matched controls, high prevalence of oral sites presenting dental plaque and advanced attachment loss (the extent of periodontal support that has been destroyed around a tooth) (chi square p<0.05), according to the results of a new study presented today at EULAR 2009, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism in Copenhagen, Denmark. In addition, these patients were found to have significantly higher RA disease activity and anti-CCP (cyclic citrullinated peptide) antibody levels than others with RA who did not exhibit periodontitis (r=0.84, p<0.05; r=0.78, p<0.05). The study also showed that, after six months of anti-TNF therapy (prescribed to control RA inflammation and destruction), a statistically significant improvement in periodontal status was seen in 20 (80%) of the 25 participants (mean age 41.5+3.7 years; mean disease duration 7.2+4.8 years), suggesting that the biological therapy may also be able to modulate the inflammatory process in the periodontium (the tissues investing and supporting the teeth, including the cementum, periodontal ligament, alveolar bone, and gingival / gums). Dr Codrina Ancuta of the Grigore T Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Rehabilitation Hospital, Iasi, Romania, who led the study, said: "There is a growing body of evidence to demonstrate an association between periodontal disease and systemic conditions involving inflammatory rheumatic disease (especially RA), cardiovascular disease and diabetes. However, further cross-disciplinary research among rheumatologists and periodontologists is required to fully understand the underlying mechanisms that link RA and periodontitis, and to explore how patients can be managed more holistically using treatments such as anti-TNFs and some lifestyle approached that may simultaneously address both conditions." The prospective observational study compared 25 consecutive RA patients receiving anti-TNFs with 25 systemically healthy individuals matched for age, gender and periodontal status at baseline and six months, assessing both groups for periodontal status (visible plaque scores, marginal bleeding scores, attachment loss, number of present teeth), and the RA patient group in terms of RA parameters (erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), anti-CCP antibodies, disease activity and disability scores). Statistical analysis was conducted in SPSS-14 (a statistical analysis computer programme) p<0.05. Moderate to Severe Periodontitis may be a Risk Factor for Developing RA in Non-Smokers A second study presented at EULAR 2009 showed that, although smoking is an established risk factor for both RA and periodontitis, non-smoking individuals with moderate to severe periodontitis may also be at a greater risk for the development of RA. Those with RA who had moderate to severe periodontitis also developed significantly higher Anti-Citrullinated Peptide Antibody (ACPA) levels than those with no-mild periodontitis. The retrospective study identified 45 RA patients based on their hospital discharge diagnostic codes from a cohort of 6,661 participants of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study, from whom serum was obtained at the time of a detailed periodontal assessment during the period 1996-1998. RA participant sera were assessed for ACPA and rheumatoid factor (RF) positivity using ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). Participants were classified as having incident RA (n=33) if their first hospital discharge code occurred after periodontitis classification. The hazard ratio (HR) of developing RA in subjects with moderate to severe periodontitis (n=27) was found to be 2.6 (95% CI=1.0-6.4, p=0.04), compared to those with no / mild periodontitis (n=6). Among lifetime non-smokers who developed RA, the Hazard Ratio was 8.8 (95% CI=1.1-68.9, p=0.04). Periodontitis severity was not shown to be independently associated with RA incidence among current and former smokers. ACPA levels were significantly higher in participants with moderate to severe periodontitis than in those with no / mild periodontitis (222.5 Units vs. 8.4 Units, p=0.04). These findings indicate that periodontitis may be a risk factor both for the development of RA, and for the development of more severe ACPA-positive disease. Abstract number: FRI0171 & FRI0129 Source:Rory BerrieEuropean League Against Rheumatism

Rheumatoid Arthritis and Periodontal disease