CHICAGO—August 5, 2008—In dental offices all over the world, patients are often told they are not flossing enough or instructed to floss more. As the old saying goes, you only need to floss the teeth you want to keep. After all, not flossing regularly can lead to tooth decay and to periodontal disease, the leading cause of tooth loss in adults.

A study published in the Journal of Periodontology (JOP), the official publication of theAmericanAcademy of Periodontology (AAP) demonstrates that including flossing as part of one’s routine oral care can actually help reduce the amount of gum disease-causing bacteria found in the mouth, therefore contributing to healthy teeth and gums.

The study, conducted atNew YorkUniversity, examined 51 sets of twins between the ages of 12 and 21. Each set was randomly assigned a two-week treatment regimen with one twin brushing with a manual toothbrush and toothpaste and the other twin brushing with a manual toothbrush and toothpaste and flossing. At the end of the two-week trial, samples were taken from both pairs of twins and compared for levels of bacteria commonly associated with periodontal disease.

The study findings indicated that those twins who did not floss had significantly more of the bacteria associated with periodontal disease when compared to the matching twin who flossed in addition to tooth-brushing with toothpaste.

“This study illustrates the impact flossing can have on oral health. The twins experimental model is a powerful tool to help sort out genetic and environmental factors that often confound the interpretation of treatment studies. This study demonstrates that flossing can have an important and favorable impact on an individual, as compared to that of a non-flossing individual with similar genetics and possibly similar habits,” explains Dr. Kenneth Kornman, editor or the Journal of Periodontology. “Twins tend to share the same or similar environmental factors such as dietary habits, health and life practices, as well as genetics. In this case, the only difference was flossing, and the outcome was significant. Flossing may significantly reduce the amount of bad bacteria in the mouth.”

The study results support that old saying, and show that including flossing as an integral part of your regular oral care can help reduce the amount of periodontal disease-causing bacteria in the mouth, thereby helping you keep your teeth. Periodontal disease is an infection caused by a build-up of bacterial plaque, a sticky, colorless film that constantly forms on your teeth. Flossing, or using interdental cleaners, helps clean the bacterial plaque from between your teeth that regular brushing can’t reach.

“As a practicing periodontist, I am constantly telling my patients to clean between their teeth more using dental floss or interdental cleaners,” says Dr. Susan Karabin, President of the AAP. “Patients tend to think that flossing can’t possibly make that much of a difference. But this study demonstrates that the addition of flossing to your dental hygiene routine can significantly reduce the amount of periodontal disease causing bacteria. Even after just two weeks!”

Source: Perio.org

Aggressive periodontitis can affect young people who are otherwise healthy. Localized aggressive periodontitis is found in teenagers and young adults and mainly affects the first molars and incisors. It is characterized by the severe loss of alveolar bone, and ironically, patients generally form very little dental plaque or calculus.

Generalized aggressive periodontitis may begin around puberty and involve the entire mouth. It is marked by inflammation of the gums and heavy accumulations of plaque and calculus. Eventually it can cause the teeth to become loose.

Periodontitis associated with systemic disease occurs in children and adolescents as it does in adults. Conditions that make children more susceptible to periodontal disease include:

• Type I diabetes
• Down syndrome
• Kindler syndrome
• Papillon-Lefevre syndrome

For example, in a survey of 263 Type I diabetics, 11 to 18 years of age, 10 percent had overt periodontitis.

Source: Perio.org

Source: Perio.org

Ridge augmentation can fill in this defect recapturing the natural contour of the gums and jaw. A new tooth can then be created that is natural looking, easy to clean and beautiful.

Source: Perio.org

In addition, research shows that current smokers don’t heal as well after periodontal treatment as former smokers or nonsmokers. But these effects are reversible if the smokers kick the habit before beginning treatment.

Source: Perio.org

BMS often occurs with a range of medical and dental conditions, from nutritional deficiencies and menopause to dry mouth and allergies. But their connection is unclear, and the exact cause of burning mouth syndrome cannot always be identified with certainty.

Signs and Symptoms

Moderate to severe burning in the mouth is the main symptom of BMS and can persist for months or years. For many people, the burning sensation begins in late morning, builds to a peak by evening, and often subsides at night. Some feel constant pain; for others, pain comes and goes. Anxiety and depression are common in people with burning mouth syndrome and may result from their chronic pain.

Other symptoms of BMS include:

• tingling or numbness on the tip of the tongue or in the mouth

• bitter or metallic changes in taste

• dry or sore mouth.

Causes

There are a number of possible causes of burning mouth syndrome, including:

• damage to nerves that control pain and taste

• hormonal changes

• dry mouth, which can be caused by many medicines and disorders such as Sjögren’s syndrome or diabetes

• nutritional deficiencies

• oral candidiasis, a fungal infection in the mouth

• acid reflux

• poorly-fitting dentures or allergies to denture materials

• anxiety and depression.

In some people, burning mouth syndrome may have more than one cause. But for many, the exact cause of their symptoms cannot be found.

Source: Medicinenet.com

Cancer risk

Users of smokeless tobacco are at an increased risk (up to 50% according to the American Cancer Society) for certain types of cancer, most notably cancer of the oral cavity (including cancers of the cheek, gums, lips, tongue, and floor and roof of the mouth. Some studies have suggested a link between the use of smokeless tobacco and the development of pancreatic cancer, esophageal cancer, and stomach cancer.

Other health risks

Those who use smokeless tobacco have an increased risk of:

• developing gum diseases and gum recession (pulling away of the gum tissue from the teeth);
• leukoplakia (whitish patches inside the mouth that can become cancerous);
• abrasion (wearing down) of teeth,;
• staining of teeth;
• tooth decay; and
• tooth loss.

All of the above have been linked to smokeless tobacco use.

Some studies have shown a link between an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (including heart attacks and stroke) in users of smokeless tobacco, although these risks are not as great as those observed in smokers. Further research is needed to determine whether or not smokeless tobacco use presents a significant risk of heart disease and stroke.

Source: Medicinenet.com

Smokeless tobacco is known to contain at least 28 cancer-causing chemicals, medically known as carcinogens. The main carcinogens in smokeless tobacco are the tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs). Some of the other cancer-causing agents found in smokeless tobacco are formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, arsenic, benzopyrene, nickel, and cadmium.

Nicotine is also found in smokeless tobacco, like all tobacco products. Although nicotine is absorbed more slowly from smokeless tobacco than from cigarettes, 3 to 4 times more nicotine is absorbed from smokeless tobacco than from a cigarette, and the nicotine from smokeless tobacco remains longer in the bloodstream. Nicotine is the substance responsible for tobacco addiction.

• In 2007, about 3% of U.S. adults aged 26 and older were users of smokeless tobacco, while around 5% of people aged 18 to 25 reported using smokeless tobacco. Rates of use among young people (under the age of 18) are higher than those of adults.
• In 2007, more than 13% of male high school students and more than 2% of female high school students reported using smokeless tobacco.

Smokeless tobacco is not the same thing as smokeless cigarettes. Smokeless cigarettes (also termed e-cigarettes) are designed to provide nicotine in vapor to the user without burning tobacco. However, the smokeless cigarettes still provide addictive nicotine to the user and secondhand nicotine to others.

Source: Medicinenet.com

“Most people don’t necessarily look forward to a procedure where their gums are cut with a scalpel, the gum is opened, the roots are scraped and stitches are placed. LANAP eliminates most of the negatives associated with surgical periodontal treatment from a patient’s point of view,” said Dr. FitzPatrick, a diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology who is certified in LANAP. “It is still surgery, but done in a kinder and gentler way, with a laser. The laser is not a ‘magic wand,’ but it is safe and effective in properly trained hands. Unlike conventional surgery, it only removes the diseased and inflamed tissue within the periodontal pocket. The healthy tissue remains intact – a big plus. In addition, there are no scalpel incisions, no stitches, very little bleeding, little or no post-op swelling or pain, and the amount of further gum recession or sensitivity caused by treatment is negligible.”

How it works:

The laser and special cleaning tools are used under local anesthesia to selectively remove only the diseased periodontal pocket tissue, along with the root-surface tartar. The laser kills most of the pocket bacteria and denatures the tartar to make it easier to remove. Then, on a different setting, the laser creates a biological seal under and around the gumline to create as sterile an environment as possible. This allows the natural healing processes to occur, resulting in pocket reduction and even regeneration of bone and supporting tissues.

Source: thetimes-tribune

It is a well-known fact that oral hygiene relates directly to one’s overall health. Of the bacteria that thrives in the mouth, certain strains that cause periodontal disease have also been linked with pneumonia, prostate cancer, stroke and diabetes as well as breast cancer.

In a study published in the journal Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, a survey of 3,273 subjects found that women with chronic periodontal disease – which was indicated by missing molars – had a higher incidence of breast cancer.

By the time individuals with advanced periodontal disease have their teeth fall out, their body’s blood supply is infested with bacteria. According to the Karolinska Institute, which conducted the study, this bacterial infection can prompt the development of a co-infection of the Epstein-Barr virus and the cytomegalovirus. These viruses work together to suppress the body’s immune responses, which may in turn lead to incidences of breast cancer.

Periodontal treatments and screenings can help delay and halt the progression of advanced gum diseases. The American Dental Association (ADA) notes that regular dental checkups can help one assess if a visit to a periodontist is needed.  

Source: DentalPlans