It’s very clear that a smoker is at an increased risk for periodontal disease. What about secondhand smoke, do you think they have the same increased risk for gum disease? Well according to this article research may just prove that.

According to an article at www.colgate.com, “ secondhand smoke may increase your risk for gum disease.”

“Researchers at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, using data from another study that included 2,379 nonsmokers ages 53-74, have concluded that exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke for a few hours each day can double a person’s risk of gum disease. People exposed to secondhand smoke less than 25 hours each week had a 29 percent increased chance and for those exposed more than 26 hours, the odds were twice as high. The study appears in the December issue of the American Journal of Public Health.

In 2004, the U.S. Surgeon General concluded that the scientific evidence was sufficient to infer a casual relationship between tobacco and gum disease. In 2006, the Surgeon General stated there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke.

The American Dental Association recommends regular checkups and periodontal exams. In addition to smoking, risk factors include tobacco chewing; systemic diseases such as diabetes; various medications such as steroids, cancer therapy drugs and oral contraceptives; bridges that no longer fit properly; crooked teeth; fillings that have become defective; and pregnancy, according to the ADA.

The ADA says warning signs include gums that bleed easily; red, swollen or tender gums; gums that have pulled away from the teeth; persistent bad breath or bad taste; permanent teeth that are loose or separating; changes in the way your teeth fit together when you bite; or any change in the fit of partial dentures.”

Click here to view the article from www.colgate.com:

For more information on periodontal disease, click here to contact Dr. McElhinney located in Reno.

Ever heard of Treponema denticola? It’s an oral bacterium along with other bacteria that produce plaque. The difference is that Treponema denticola is the main bacterium that can lead to periodontal disease if teeth are not properly cared for. Prevention is the key!

According to an article at medicalnewstoday.com,” The Bacterium Treponema denticola falls In with the wrong crowd.”

“Stripping some mouth bacteria of their access key to gangs of other pathogenic oral bacteria could help prevent gum disease and tooth loss. The study, published in the journal Microbiology suggests that this bacterial access key could be a drug target for people who are at high risk of developing gum disease.

Oral bacteria called Treponema denticola frequently gang up in communities with other pathogenic oral bacteria to produce destructive dental plaque. This plaque, made up of bacteria, saliva and food debris, is a major cause of bleeding gums and gum disease. Later in life this can lead to periodontitis and loss of teeth. It is this interaction between different oral pathogens that is thought to be crucial to the development of periodontal disease.

Researchers from the University of Bristol have discovered that a molecule on the surface of Treponema called CTLP acts as the key pass that grants the bacterium access to the community, by allowing it to latch onto other oral bacteria. Once incorporated, CTLP in conjunction with other bacterial molecules can start to wreak havoc by inhibiting blood clotting (leading to continued bleeding of the gums) and causing tissue destruction.”

Professor Howard Jenkinson, who led the study, said that periodontal disease and bleeding gums are common ailments, affecting many groups of people, including the elderly, pregnant women and diabetics. “Devising new means to control these infections requires deeper understanding of the microbes involved, their interactions, and how they are able to become incorporated into dental plaque,” he said. “

Click here to read more of the article from medicalnewstoday.com

If you have any questions about the best ways to fight periodontal disease, click here to contact Dr. McElhinney located in Reno.

I know many women probably don’t want to hear this especially if you are currently taking progesterone (IM injections only) but we need to stay on top of our health. Oral health is a priority for many, so if you are on this medication check with your dentist and make sure that you’re not at risk for periodontal disease.

According to an article at medicalnewstoday.com,” women taking intramuscular injections of progesterone may be at risk of periodontal disease.”

“Injectable progesterone contraceptives may be associated with poor periodontal health, according to research in the Journal of Periodontology. The study found that women who are currently taking Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) injectable contraceptive, or have taken DMPA in the past, are more likely to have indicators of poor periodontal health, including gingivitis and periodontitis, than women who have never taken the injectable contraceptive. DMPA is a long-lasting progestin-only injectable contraceptive administered intramuscularly every three months.

Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the gum tissue and bone that supports the teeth. Gingivitis, the mildest form of gum disease, causes the gums to become red, swollen, and bleed easily. Periodontitis is the most severe form of gum disease and can lead to tooth loss. Additionally, research has associated gum disease with other chronic inflammatory diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and rheumatoid arthritis.

The data for this study were obtained from the NHANES 1999-2004 public use datasets. The participants chosen were non-pregnant, premenopausal women aged 15-44 who had provided complete DMPA usage data, indicating current usage of DMPA, past usage of DMPA, or no usage of DMPA at all. All participants received a dental examination that noted clinical attachment (CA) loss, periodontal pocket assessment at two or three sites per tooth, and presence of gingival bleeding.

After adjusting for age, race, education, poverty income level, and smoking status, the study found that current and past DMPA users had significantly increased periodontal pockets, gingival bleeding, and CA loss than women who have never used DMPA. Current DMPA users were more likely to have gingivitis, while past DMPA users were more likely to have periodontitis."

Click here to read the entire article:

If you have any questions regarding periodontal disease contact Dr. McElhinney’s dental practice located in Reno.

Did you ever think that your dentist could tell you if you are at risk for diabetes just by examining your mouth? Did you know that diabetes and periodontal disease may have a link according to recent studies?

According to a recent article in the Dental Tribune, “Dental professionals on the front line in the fight against diabetes.

NEW YORK, N.Y., USA: An as-yet unstoppable increase in the number of people with diabetes or pre-diabetes in the United States and across the globe makes it not so much a question of if but when more dental professionals will need to become highly skilled in treating such patients. There are 26 million people with diabetes in the U.S., and 95 percent of them have a form of periodontal disease, compared with 50 percent of the general population.

RELATED TOPICS: Oral warning signs can indicate serious medical conditions validating the oral-systemic health connection Dentists can help identify diabetes.

Of those 26 million, more than 7 million are unaware of their diabetes. Just as significant, 79 million people are estimated to have pre-diabetes, with as many as half unaware of it. A growing body of research suggests that the association between oral health and diabetes is bidirectional, placing dental professionals in the position of not just being able to help patients with diabetes control the illness, but perhaps being able to help those with pre-diabetes avoid full onset.

Recognizing this link between oral health and diabetes, Colgate Total® is donating $100,000 and joining forces with the American Diabetes Association’s campaign to “Stop Diabetes” by encouraging people to learn more about oral health care and “Raise Their Hand to Stop Diabetes.”

Central to the campaign’s focus are educating people on the importance of dental visits — as well as helping dental professionals, who are seeing growing numbers of patients with diabetes. Colgate’s involvement also stems from its interest in promoting the use of antibacterial toothpastes such as Colgate Total to support gum health.

Also helping with the effort is Maria Emanuel Ryan, DDS, PhD, a periodontist and professor of oral biology and pathology at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, N.Y. A globally known expert on the link between oral health and diabetes, Ryan recently spoke with Dental Tribune.

Dental Tribune: What size of a patient base are we talking about in terms of the need for achieving greater awareness?

Dr. Maria Emanuel Ryan: Some of the talks I have given have been at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They have an interest in this area because to them diabetes is an epidemic. Each year we have 1.9 million new cases diagnosed in people 20 years of age and older. If the population of people with diabetes keeps growing at this rate, in the very near future it will be about one in three, which is a very significant number.

What can dental professionals do to help identify patients who have diabetes or pre-diabetes but have not been diagnosed?

Certainly we can screen for diabetes. And this is being recommended by the CDC. One way is by risk assessment: knowing a patient’s family history, looking at obesity as a risk factor, looking to determine if the patient is in one of the populations where risk factors may be higher [African Americans, Pacific Islanders, Native Americans, Latinos and Hispanics]; asking about gestational diabetes. Most patients with diabetes are type 2 patients, who tend to be older than 45 years of age. Risk factors such as hypertension and dyslipidemia are also important to consider. Of course, there are the classic signs and symptoms: thirst, frequent urination, infections, and numbness in extremities, leg cramps, and vision problems. Unfortunately, with type 2 diabetes, there are many people who are unaware they have it. That’s why the CDC is looking to oral health care professionals for help. If a person has any of the risk factors, signs or symptoms, dental professionals can refer to the physician for additional screening, or obtain a random blood glucose level or even a fasting blood glucose level and then refer appropriate patients to the physician for diagnosis.”

You can read the full article at http://www.dental-tribune.com/articles/content/scope/news/region/usa/id/7164

As a dentist we come across many issues that many patients may not want to discuss but prevention is the key, contact Dr. McElhinney’s dental practice located in Reno with any questions.