Link Between Periodontal Disease And Kidney Cancer

The kidneys are blood filtering organs placed in the back of our abdomen. Kidneys remove bodily waste by filtering blood and then change it into urine.  From our kidneys, urine is carried into the bladder through a tube known as the ureter. Kidney cancer originates in the kidney in two places: the renal tubule and the renal pelvis. There are many types of kidney cancers. These are renal cell carcinomas, transitional cell carcinoma and Wilms’ tumor.

  • Renal cell carcinomas comprise about 85% of kidney cancers. This cancer grows within the kidney’s microscopic filtering systems, in the lining of tiny tubules.
  • Transitional cell carcinoma starts in the place of the kidney where urine accumulates before being funneled to the bladder. This type of kidney cancer is the same as bladder cancer, so both are treated in same way.
  • Wilms’ tumor is mostly found in children. The treatment is different from adult kidney cancer.

The common symptoms of kidney cancer are blood in the urine, weight loss and fever, a pain in the side that doesn’t go away, loss of appetite, weight loss for no known reason and anemia. This disease is difficult to detect because this cancer does not show noticeable symptoms in the earliest stages. The major reason for kidney cancer is smoking cigarettes. Exposure of toxic metals such as cadmium, asbestos and lead materials also increase the chance of kidney cancer. The common medical factors of kidney cancer are chronic kidney complaint, obesity and diabetes.

Periodontal disease is a debilitating form of gum disease. Our mouth contains a hundreds of species of bacteria. Most of the bacteria are not harmful to humans but some are harmful to our teeth, gums and entire body. The bacteria form a biofilm called plaque. We can remove plaque by brushing and flossing. If the plaque is not removed frequently it becomes harder and forms calculus or tartar. It is very hard and cannot be removed by normal brushing and flossing. Only cleaning our teeth in a professional way helps you to remove tartar. If the tartar and plaque are not removed properly they are very detrimental to one’s health. They affect the gums by causing Gingivitis. This is the onset of periodontal disease.

The symptoms of gum disease are bad breath that does not go away, red gums, bleeding gums, painful chewing, loose teeth and sensitive teeth. The first treatment for gum disease is to control the infection. Scaling and root planing are the two methods used by the dentist, periodontist or hygienist. These techniques are designed to remove tartar below the gum line and between the teeth and detoxify the root surface. The surgical treatments of periodontal disease are flap surgery and bone and tissue grafts. Flap surgery is used to remove tartar from teeth. During this treatment the gums are lifted back and the tartar is removed. The other method of treatment is bone and tissue grafts. In this method the bone or gum tissue is replaced, but results are unpredictable.

There is a strong link between periodontal disease and kidney cancer, a recent research report in the prestigious journal, Lancet Oncology, confirmed that gum disease increases the risk of kidney cancer by around 50%. For reducing the risk of gum disease, the American Dental Association (ADA) recommends brushing and flossing your teeth twice a day and visiting your dentist regularly. If you have periodontal disease, you should be seeing your dentist every three months instead of every six months. New approaches to plaque removal consist of power washing with a brushless system (Dental Air Force®) that requires no flossing, yet removes the bacteria producing plaque between teeth and around the gums.

In order to reduce the risk of kidney cancer (and other systemic diseases), it is wise to be vigilant in keeping your teeth clean and treating any periodontal disease.

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Want to learn more on how to have a white and healthy smile and manage periodontal disease? I have designed and developed a home dental cleaning system that uses the technology of the professional Prophy-Jet to power wash between your teeth and around the gum line. Visit www.dentalairforce.com               Dr. Piero

Link between Periodontal Disease and Prostatitis

Periodontitis is an extreme form of gum disease that can harm gingival tissues, that can injure or harm bone, and that can loosen teeth and cause them to fall out over time. This condition has already been linked to heart conditions, and now it is being linked to some cases of prostatitis too. Periodontal disease is the name for bacterial infections of the gums in the mouth. Periodontitis, or Pyorrhea, is a disease involving inflammation of the gums, often persisting unnoticed for years or decades in a patient, that results in loss of bone around teeth.

The treatment of periodontal disease begins with the removal of sub-gingival calculus (tartar). This is commonly addressed by the surgical procedures known as root planing and scaling. These procedures debride calculus by mechanically scraping it from tooth surfaces. Dental calculus, commonly known as tartar, consists almost entirely of calcium phosphate salt, the ionic derivative of calcium phosphate (the primary composition of teeth and bone). Clinically, calculus stuck to teeth appears to be hardened to the point requiring mechanical scraping for removal.

Prostatitis is a disease that affects one’s prostate gland and that can result in pain during urination, significant groin discomfort, abdominal pain, lower back pain, discomfort in the perineum, and penile and testicular pain as well. Prostatitis is also associated with the onset of a high fever, gastrointestinal difficulties, and chills in some cases too. Prostatitis is difficult to diagnose and treat, and has a wide range of debilitating and troublesome side affects. Unlike prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), prostatitis often affects the lives of young and middle-aged men.

The general causes cited for the onset of prostatitis include immune system difficulties, disorders of the nervous system, emotional stress, injury to the prostate, and infection. Now, recent research published in the Journal of Periodontology suggests that there is a significant connection between periodontitis and prostatitis.

Studies done at Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine and University Hospitals Case Medical Center showed results from a small group that inflammation from periodontal disease and prostate problems  may be linked. They discuss their new evidence in the Journal of Periodontology, the official journal of the American Academy of Periodontology. The researchers compared two markers: the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) used to measure inflammation levels in prostate disease, and clinical attachment level (CAL) of the gums and teeth, which can be an indicator for periodontitis. The researchers compared two markers: the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) used to measure inflammation levels in prostate disease, and clinical attachment level (CAL) of the gums and teeth, which can be an indicator for periodontitis.
A PSA elevation of 4.0 ng/ml in the blood can be a sign of inflammation or malignancy. Patients with healthy prostate glands have lower than 4.0ng/ml levels. A CAL number greater than 2.7 mm indicates periodontitis. Like prostatitis, periodontitis also produces high inflammation levels. The testing for periodontitis involved a full examination of the condition of the gums, a check for bleeding of the gums, and for signs of gingival inflammation. The end result of the study found that the men that had both prostatitis and periodontitis had significantly higher PSA levels than those men that either had prostatitis or periodontitis alone. In essence, research has now revealed that when a man has periodontal disease he can worsen a condition like prostatitis and that gum disease contributes to the severity of prostatitis.

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Want to learn more on how to have a white and healthy smile and manage periodontal disease? I have designed and developed a home dental cleaning system that uses the technology of the professional Prophy-Jet to power wash between your teeth and around the gum line. Visit www.dentalairforce.com               Dr. Piero

Bugs, Cytokines & Stress

Blame the bugs. Bugs create biofilms. Biofilms are found in every household water lines and sewers, water treatment plants, energy plants, contact lenses, bottoms of river beds and bird baths. They are a slimy, sticky, glue-like, barnacle-like, water phobic matrix of organisms. They cause enormous amounts of money in damage. Biofilms are responsible for destroying the oil pipelines in Alaska. Each biofilm is unique to its own environment. They thrive with different nutrients, growing temperatures, light requirements, pH environments, surface types and atmospheric pressure.

The biofilm in the mouth is among the most complex because it inhabits a live organism. There is a hierarchy of bugs that create the biofilm which gets more and more complex. The complexity of what is happening in the mouth and its effect on the whole body can not be over exaggerated. The bacteria in the biofilms attach themselves to the hard and soft tissues like a grappling hook and imbed filaments that anchor the entire mass to the host. They then form layers upon layers of different species of organisms that form the foundation for an intricate network of communication and transportation systems. Highways are formed bringing nutrients in and excrement out; chemical communications in and chemical communications out. Bugs are communicating with each other and speak many different languages, even languages of different species of bugs. This is like dogs talking to fish, not like Americans talking to Chinese. They also share and swap genes with each other – an amazing feat, that proves reality is stranger than fiction.

The body is recognizing the biofilm in the mouth as infection. The infection is contagious and communicable. It’s the body’s defense mechanism to the infection that sets off the battle between the host and the bugs.

Cytokines are the byproduct of the battle. They are emitted from blood cells attacking the pathogenetic bacteria in the biofilm. They are used by the body as pseudo hormones or chemical mediators. They tell the body to manufacture more blood cells. These blood cells are called macrophages, neutrophils, eosinophils and others.

In the presence of infection, the blood cells (that are racing around looking for infections) release the cytokines and tell the body to manufacture more blood cells. So this is what is stressing out the body. Unfortunately, these cytokines inflame all the internal lumens of arteries and are responsible for a cascade effect for many systemic diseases, such as heart disease, cerebral vascular disease, diabetes, pancreatic cancer, respiratory diseases, oral and throat cancer, lung cancer, prostatitis, erectile dysfunction, children with low birth weight, breast cancer, chronic fatigue syndrome and most recently osteoporosis. These cytokines interact with the whole body’s system causing inflammatory immune response (STRESS).

Professional dental cleanings strip the biofilm in the mouth, similar to cutting down a forest. In literally hours, the biofilm is trying to reorganize. Left unchecked, the new biofilm (forest) is reorganized (re-grown) in seventy days. Microscopic destruction occurs within a week. Ten times the amount of damage to the body is done between the third to the sixth month after a cleaning versus the first to the third month after a cleaning. That is why three month professional dental cleanings are so important. The cleanings gets rid of the biofilm, gets rid of the inflammatory process and gets rid of the cytokines, which is taxing the entire system (STRESS).

Professional cleanings will not do it on its own. Three dimensional home cleaning (around each tooth) is essential to maintaining low levels of inflammatory response.

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Want to learn more on how to have a white and healthy smile and manage periodontal disease? I have designed and developed a home dental cleaning system that uses the technology of the professional Prophy-Jet to power wash between your teeth and around the gum line. Visit www.dentalairforce.com               Dr. Piero

Dental Problems Linked To Breast Cancer

New data concerning women’s health has linked periodontal disease to breast cancer. This came from a recent study in October 2010 at Huddinge, Sweden by the Department of Dental Medicine, Division of Periodontology, Karolinska Institutet.

Over 3000 women between the ages of 30-40 years were part of a 16 year randomized study. “Of the subjects with periodontal disease and any missing molars in the mandible 5.5% had breast cancer in comparison to 0.5% of the subjects who had periodontal disease but no missing molars,” the study reported. Missing molars are a sign of long term periodontal issues. (Read more details on the study at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20960226)

One explanation is that the bacteria, in periodontal disease, infects the entire blood supply of these advanced periodontal patients. This infection then sets off viral infections, referred to as “co-infections”. These other infections cause the body to use all its immune response to fight the co-infections, leaving a suppressed immune system to fight off the cancer – in other words, too weak to fight anymore.

This information will not be a surprise for those in the medical field who have long known that periodontal disease affects the whole body. Other studies have shown that the bacteria found in periodontal disease are also linked to heart disease, diabetes, pneumonia, stroke, prostate disease, low birth weights in infants and indeed other cancers (pancreatic, kidney, lung and white blood cell).

It is important that everyone take care of their oral health and more so for those that are prone to any of the systemic diseases or have a family history of cancer. Diligent twice-daily cleanings should be a normal part of a person’s health care. The Dental Air Force offers an effective way to combine tooth brushing and flossing that removes 60% more bacteria in between teeth and around the gums than an electric tooth brush. Regular six month professional visits to the dentist are also important. And if the patient has periodontal disease, those visits should increase to every three months for periodontal treatment.

Six signs that can alert one to periodontal disease are:

  • ● Bad breath that won’t go away
  • ● Red or swollen gums
  • ● Tender or bleeding gums (they should not bleed when you brush your teeth)
  • ● Painful chewing
  • ● Sensitive teeth
  • ● Loose teeth

Unfortunately periodontal disease does not show symptoms until it is advanced and it is irreversible. However, you and your dentist can halt its progress. That is why it is so important to visit the dentist and take meticulous care in cleaning your teeth daily.

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Want to learn more on how to have a white and healthy smile and manage periodontal disease? I have designed and developed a home dental cleaning system that uses the technology of the professional Prophy-Jet to power wash between your teeth and around the gum line. Visit www.dentalairforce.com               Dr. Piero

Four Times A Year Better Than Two for Osteoporosis

More is not always better, but in the case of professional dental cleanings and menopausal women, visiting the dentist four times a year may assist in keeping bones healthy.

Women who are going through or have completed menopause are more at risk for osteoporosis. A recent study reported in Menopause – The Journal of the North American Menopause Society found that those at risk of osteoporosis are also at risk of periodontal disease. The word osteoporosis means porous bones. As aging occurs, the body loses minerals, especially calcium. The bones become weaker and are more susceptible to breaking. Although osteoporosis is usually associated with backs, hips and wrists, the jaw is also a bone affected by osteoporosis.

Bone anchors the teeth and there is a loss of bone density with aging. With osteoporosis, loss of bone density may affect the bone surrounding teeth causing them to become loose. Osteoporosis is only one factor in healthy jaws. Menopausal women, according to the study, showed abnormal dental plaque (a precursor to periodontal disease).

Periodontal disease is another factor in healthy jaws. The cause of periodontal disease stems from the plaque-producing bacteria, found among the almost 500 species of bacteria in the mouth. The body recognizes the bacteria in the mouth as a chronic infection. The body sends blood cells via capillaries to the infected area and cytokines are released which in turn causes the body to produce more blood cells to physically fight the infection. Chronic infection results in messages or cytokines being continuously sent out and blood cells being continuously produced. This is stress on your entire body, taxing your immune system and now an association has been found with cytokines and osteoporosis.

The premise of the study in Menopause magazine was that the cytokines stimulate osteoclasts which degrade bone. The cytokines in periodontal disease are degrading the bone. So if you can treat the periodontal disease, this will lower the cytokines and slow down osteoporosis.

In the presence of cytokines in the blood stream a red flag should go up for physicians that there is an infection somewhere in the body. It has been now known for some time that this marker is as important for heart disease as cholesterol. This new study highlights the importance of cytokines and how it affects bone density.

Treating osteoporosis with long-term bisphosphonate seems to protect against some of the bone loss in the body including the jaw. And getting professional dental cleaning four times a year may be a good combination for keeping jaws and teeth healthy, especially for postmenopausal women.

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Want to learn more on how to have a white and healthy smile and manage periodontal disease? I have designed and developed a home dental cleaning system that uses the technology of the professional Prophy-Jet to power wash between your teeth and around the gum line. Visit www.dentalairforce.com               Dr. Piero

Battling The Almost Inevitable Gum Disease

Chances are high that you will have periodontal disease or gum disease in your lifetime. Over 80% of adults do. With those odds, it may seem inevitable that you will have it, but why not be in the 20% that don’t? You can, all it takes is diligent, thorough and proper oral care.

First – THE DESCRIPTION: periodontal disease is the chronic infection of the soft tissue around the teeth caused by plaque producing bacteria. The gums hold the teeth in place. As the gums become infected, they loosen their hold on the teeth and pockets are formed. These pockets collect debris and cause more infection and bone loss to the tooth. Imagine the tooth as a fence post in the ground, cemented in place. The post starts out sturdy and strong with no movement. The cement is doing its job. Now imagine that chemicals (from acid rain or blowing debris or winter salt trucks) start to erode the cement. Soon the post becomes wobbly and the wood under the ground starts to rot. The cement in this example is the gum tissue and the post is the tooth. Unfortunately, gum disease is worse than one rotting fence post. It is infectious and contagious. It can spread from tooth to tooth in the mouth and from one person’s mouth to another through saliva.

Second – THE SYMPTOMS: This is not so easy. Often gum disease has no symptoms so it is left untreated until it becomes so bad irreparable bone loss occurs. Outward signs of periodontitis are:

  • Bad breath that won’t go away
  • Red or swollen gums
  • Bleeding gums especially after tooth brushing
  • Tender or sore gums
  • Loose teeth
  • Receding gums

Third – THE DIAGNOSIS: During regular six month cleanings, a dentist can diagnose periodontal disease in its very early stages. Xrays determine if any bone loss has occurred. Periodontal probing determines the depth of the pockets or space that the gums have loosened around the tooth. High levels of plaque or tartar build up that have spread to below the gum line is another indication.

Fourth – THE TREATMENT: If you have perio issues, there are several steps that a dentist may recommend depending on the severity of the case. The most important action is meticulous at home daily oral care. Teeth must be brushed twice or more times each day for at least two minutes and flossed at least once per day. Other treatments include prescription oral rinses, three month perio cleanings, scaling and root planing (SRP) and surgery.

Last but not least – PREVENTION: The most important preventative measure to avoid the insidious gum disease is to take excellent care of your teeth. Proper cleaning at least twice a day is imperative. The goal is to keep the bacteria that cause the plaque at very low levels.

Not everyone gets gum disease, make sure you are among those that don’t.

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Want to learn more on how to have a white and healthy smile and manage periodontal disease? I have designed and developed a home dental cleaning system that uses the technology of the professional Prophy-Jet to power wash between your teeth and around the gum line. Visit www.dentalairforce.com               Dr. Piero

Clean Teeth Could Mean Clean Arteries – Less Chance Of Stroke

More and more evidence points to the relationship between strokes and periodontal (perio) disease. Studies in the Infectious Diseases Unit, Hospital Luigi Sacco, Milan, Italy have reported that the thickness of the carotid arteries was reduced after treatment for mild to moderate gum disease.

Strokes are caused by blockage in a blood vessel (most common) or bleeding of a vessel. The studies that were conducted showing a link between strokes and periodontal issues were those strokes caused by blockages. These occur when there is a thickening of the carotid and other arteries. Deposits of calcium and cholesterol – that are in blood vessels and arteries – break off and block the blood from reaching the brain. (The deposits are often referred to as plaque deposits. This is not to be confused with periodontal plaque.)

The bacteria found in periodontal disease are the perpetrator. The protein in the bacteria is similar to that found in periodontal disease. While the bacteria are in the mouth, the body sets up a defense mechanism to attack the disease. The chemical given off by the body first attacks the periodontal disease then attacks the proteins in the blood vessels. This in turn builds up the deposits in the arteries. When the fatty substances break off the lining of the blood vessels they can travel to the brain and block the blood, causing the stroke.

There are about 800,000 strokes in the US each year, with over 140,000 deaths. It is the third leading cause of death. Strokes strike both men and women and can occur at any age.

Perio disease is a chronic infection of the soft tissue around the teeth. The gum tissue is destroyed and pockets are formed around the tooth. Symptoms include loose teeth, deep pockets, bad breath that won’t go away, painful or bleeding gums and red or swollen gums. There are no symptoms in the early stages of periodontitis. Professional dental visits are necessary to insure the disease is caught early. Periodontitis is caused by the plaque (in this case dental plaque) build up from not keeping the area around the teeth and in between teeth clean.

There are risk factors for stroke that one cannot control. These include age, gender, and family history. There are risk factors, however, that can be controlled. One factor is periodontal disease. This can be managed successfully by individuals. Although oral surgical procedures may be necessary for severe cases, most treatment requires good oral hygiene. The American Dental Association (http://www.ada.org/public/topics/cleaning.asp) recommends brushing teeth twice a day, flossing once a day, and professional cleanings twice a year.

The National Center for Biotechnology Information who published the study showing the link between strokes and periodontal disease, reported that the thickening of the carotid arteries “are positively influenced by periodontal treatment.” (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19074511?dopt=Abstract)

This information reinforces the belief that many in the dental profession have known for years, that there is a significant link between oral health and overall health.

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Want to learn more on how to have a white and healthy smile and manage periodontal disease? I have designed and developed a home dental cleaning system that uses the technology of the professional Prophy-Jet to power wash between your teeth and around the gum line. Visit www.dentalairforce.com               Dr. Piero

Periodontal Disease Association with Endometriosis

There are many links between periodontal disease (perio) and ones general health. More and more information from researchers all over the world comes in daily. Just recently, new studies by the University of Michigan Endometriosis Center reported the possibility that there is an association. Both are immune response impairments. In the study, women with endometriosis had a 57% higher likelihood of having perio issues than those without endometriosis. Over 4000 women were used in the study.

Endometriosis is an issue found in women of childbearing age. It is the thickening of the outside of the uterus, often causing pain, abnormal bleeding and sometimes infertility. There is no known conclusive cause for endometriosis. There are a number of treatments; each depending on age and desire to become pregnant. The treatments may involve medications such as pain relievers, hormone treatment, oral contraceptives and others. Surgery is another option for severe cases or in those treating infertility.

Periodontal disease is a chronic infectious inflammation found in the mouth. The word comes from “peri” meaning around and “dontal” meaning tooth. Eighty percent of all adults have had some degree of the disease. Perio infection (affecting soft tissue) and tooth decay (affecting hard tissue) are the most prevalent diseases on the planet earth, however, because it’s in the mouth, out-of-sight, it is often put out-of-mind. Symptoms include swollen gums, loose teeth, painful chewing, bleeding gums. However, some people have no outward symptoms. A dentist can determine if periodontal disease or gingivitis exists and to what extent.

The reason for the possible link is not clear. The researchers atUniversityofMichiganconcluded, “Although it is conceivable that the multifactorial development of endometriosis may be augmented by an immune response to an infectious agent, the potential underlying link between endometriosis and periodontal disease may be a generalized, global immune dysregulation.” References: (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18394619)

Even though the study was not conclusive (most studies are not), it is just another indication that perio disease affects the whole body, not just the mouth. It is critical that women visit a dentist for regular six month check-ups and cleanings. If perio disease is present, it is also imperative that treatment be started. And most important, impeccable home oral care is necessary to keep teeth and gums healthy. The evidence points to reducing the risk of stroke by taking care of your mouth.

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Want to learn more on how to have a white and healthy smile and manage periodontal disease? I have designed and developed a home dental cleaning system that uses the technology of the professional Prophy-Jet to power wash between your teeth and around the gum line. Visit www.dentalairforce.com               Dr. Piero

Cleaner Teeth May Increase Longevity

There is one more way to increase the longevity of your life besides the common platitudes to stop smoking, lose weight, eat more fruits and vegetables, and exercise. An often overlooked and under publicized tip to a healthier body is to keep your teeth clean. TheU.S.Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, reports that 80 percent of all adults have some degree of periodontal disease.

Periodontal disease is linked to or is a potential risk factor for those with damaged heart valves, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, respiratory disease and behavioral and psychosocial conditions according to The American Academy of Periodontology, which has been reviewing the data. It is the most pervasive infectious disease on earth.

The cause of this insidious disease stems from the plaque-producing bacteria, found among the almost 500 species of bacteria in the mouth. The bacteria that cause periodontal disease live in the absence of air, like it warm, dark and acidic. They provide the furry feeling on teeth upon awakening. The acidic bio-film forms a sticky, water resistant shield around the tooth, called plaque. Water alone (swishing or oral irrigating) cannot penetrate this grease barrier to remove plaque. In addition, gums act like a gasket around the tooth, further preventing air or water to reach the “air hating” bacteria along the gum line, making cleaning especially difficult.

Restorations, crowns, bridges, orthodontic appliances, wisdom teeth, implants, periodontal disease, or not flossing, will sustain dangerous levels of bacteria even after brushing. Bacteria (good or bad) reproduce exponentially every hour. This means that if you start off with a bacteria population of 1x (1x being the amount of bacteria in your mouth after a professional cleaning – which you can’t achieve in the home), after one hour you have double the population of bacteria, and after two hours you have 4x, then 8x, 16x, etc. Poor cleaning in a few areas will leave heavy concentrations of plaque that can repopulate other areas of the oral cavity. You may start with a bacteria population of 10,000x and in a few hours bacteria will quickly race out of control.

To reduce the plaque-producing bacteria in the mouth, one must a) break through the sticky shield with an abrasive, b) cleanse the site, c) aerate the site, and d) neutralize the acid. Normal cleaning methods, like brushing and flossing, have a difficult time accessing the sites between the teeth or can’t break through the sticky film, don’t aerate those sites, and don’t neutralize the acid.

The American Dental Society reports that only 5% of the population floss their teeth. Drawbacks to flossing are possible gum lacerations and the floss can act as a contaminant bringing infection from one tooth to the other. Flossing does not aerate the site nor neutralize the acid.

Tooth brushing is over aggressive on the cheek-side surfaces of teeth causing toothbrush abrasion and ridges along the gum line, resulting in sensitivity to hot and cold, while still not accessing in between the teeth. Tooth brushing also does not aerate the sites to change the environment.

It’s not easy to keep the population of bacteria in the mouth low and your teeth really clean. Meticulous routine twice daily cleaning is necessary. Professional cleanings at least twice a year assist in this task. The effort it takes will facilitate your overall health. There is lots of evidence suggesting that one way to live longer is to clean your teeth better.

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Want to learn more on how to have a white and healthy smile and manage periodontal disease? I have designed and developed a home dental cleaning system that uses the technology of the professional Prophy-Jet to power wash between your teeth and around the gum line. Visit www.dentalairforce.com      Dr. Piero

The Link Between Periodontal Disease and Diabetes

Diabetes affects about 24 million Americans or about 8% of the population. It is a disease that is characterized by high levels of blood sugar caused by malfunctioning insulin production. An insulin resistant individual becomes diabetic when the pancreas can no longer put out sufficient insulin to lower the blood sugar and the organ becomes exhausted.

The pancreas is controlled by hormonal feedback mechanisms. Acute and chronic infections create hormonal chaos in the body. Periodontal disease is the most widespread infectious disease on the planet, consequently provokes a great deal of chaos.

The sugars found in the mouth aid in gum disease. The constant introduction and presence of sugar in the mouth (like a sippy cup with juice), feed the bacteria that leads to periodontal disease.

Blood vessels in a diabetic are also compromised. They thicken and slow the delivery of oxygen to the extremities. Likewise, they slow the removal of waste from these tissues. All of which lowers the defense to infection, including periodontal infection.

A Dentistry Today publication detailed the link between periodontal disease and diabetes. Those with diabetes have more severe periodontal issues and those with the oral disease have a more difficult time controlling their diabetes. The link is found in both adults and children. About 50 percent of children have periodontal disease according to the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford University Medical Center. Unfortunately the symptoms of the disease are often not noticeable until the disease is advanced. A dentist can diagnose the disease in the early stages, prior to parents realizing their children have it. Thus, it is important that children with diabetes receive regular oral check ups. It is recommended that diabetics who have periodontal disease should be treated for the periodontal infection.

A study at the School of Dental Medicine at the University at Buffalo found that obesity is significantly related to periodontal disease through the pathway of insulin resistance. Sara Grossi, director of the UB Periodontal Disease Research Center and lead author of the study said, “Now we see a relationship between obesity, insulin resistance and periodontal disease in a large, population-based cohort. This relationship is significant because obesity is an important risk factor for Type 2 diabetes and heart disease.” (http://www.sdm.buffalo.edu/news/20000408_obesity.html)

Not only is treating the periodontal disease good for the diabetic, it also can save money. A three year study showed that the medical costs for diabetics went down when their gum disease was treated. This study looked at medical claims for patients with diabetes and periodontal disease and found patients with diabetes and who treated their periodontal disease saved almost $2500, compared to those who did not treat their oral issues.

Today, adults and children with diabetes have a better chance of keeping this disease under control. Besides diet, it also takes diligence and thoroughness in oral health. One of the best ways to do that is by using the Dental Air Force system, which combines tooth brushing and flossing, by cleaning between teeth and around the gums. (http://www.dentalairforce.com)

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Want to learn more on how to have a white and healthy smile and manage periodontal disease? I have designed and developed a home dental cleaning system that uses the technology of the professional Prophy-Jet to power wash between your teeth and around the gum line. Visit www.dentalairforce.com               Dr. Piero