This month we have some news about the link between Periodontitis (gum disease) and Heart Disease, study about smoking and bone loss and power of blueberries on periodontitis.
- Periodontitis and Heart Disease: connecting the dots
As previous research has confirmed that periodontitis is a risk factor for heart disease, now a new research show that the pathogens (organisms) causes Atherosclerosis in the heart muscle cells.
A team of researchers from School of Health Sciences, Orebro University, Sweden showed that the periodontal pathogen, Porphyromonas gingivalis causes a change in the gene expression that causes increased inflammation and atherosclerosis in aortic smooth muscle cells. The study found that P.gingivalis is seen in the coronary artery plaque of heart attack patients. Animal models displayed that the P.gingivalis caused and accelerated coronary and aortic atherosclerosis.
This research proved the association of periodontitis and cardiovascular disease and the mechanism involved. Now research is going on to find the biomarkers, to diagnose and treat the diseases.
2. Smoke a Tooth Out: A study about Smoking and Tooth loss
Tooth loss is a global health problem. In United Stated 25% of adults over aged 60 years or over has lost all their teeth. 13% of present smokers, 8% of past smokers and 5% of non-smokers are completely without teeth. This is according to CDC survey.
Researchers has found that Male Smokers are 3.6 times more prone to teeth loss than non-smokers and female smokers are 2.5 times more likely to lose their teeth than non-smokers.
Thomas Dietrich, a professor and researcher from University of Birmingham, UK has found that smoking can mask the gum bleeding. This is dangerous because smoking can hide the symptoms like gum bleeding and patients are unaware of the disease causing them to think everything is ok. That is why we at Value Smiles highly recommend annual dental checkups.
Fortunately the effects can be reversed if the smoker quits and it can happen fairly quickly. It may take up to 10 years to reduce the risk of tooth loss like a non-smoker. This extensive research also show that the association between the smoking and tooth loss is stronger in young people than older folks. Also its dose dependent means that heavier the smoker, higher the chances of tooth loss.
3. Magic of Blueberries on Gum Disease
Researchers from Universite Laval in Quebec, Canada studied to see if blueberry extracts which work against foodborne pathogens can work on periodontitis bacteria. Scientists have found that the blueberry extract may help prevent dental plaque formation. This is a good news so that we don’t have to use antibiotics in gum diseases. Lab research has proved that blueberry extract prevent the growth of periodontitis bacteria and reduced the ability to form biofilm. Researchers are working hard to come up with an Oral device to deliver the extract along with deep cleaning to treat periodontitis.
Please contact us at 770-489-9141 or visit us at WWW.MYVALUESMILES.COM for any further information. We have same day appointments in most situations. We accept most major dental insurances. We are conveniently located at 2635 Lee Road, Suite C4, Lithia Springs, GA-30122. We are in the Publix plaza at the intersection of Fairburn Road and Lee Road. Value Smiles provide Affordable Dental Care with Excellent Customer Service to patients in Lithia Springs, Douglasville, Austell, Mableton, Powder Springs and surrounding areas.
This place is Awesome! Out of all the dentist offices I visited when I first moved to the Atlanta area Value Smiles over exceeded my expectations! The staff treats you as if you're family very welcoming environment! The office is updated with the top of the line equipment. This is the first time in my life I've completed everything I needed done in my mouth. Even though I live 45 mins away I don't mind driving it! BEST PART...(you don't feel a thing) BEST PART #2 (Affordable) Thanks Value Smiles ;-)