May 12th World Gum Health Day 2024

Nearly 45% of the world population has oral diseases (cavities, periodontal disease, etc.) which surpasses all other non-communicable diseases (cancer, mental disorders, diabetes, cardiovascular, and chronic respiratory diseases). The European Federation of Periodontology annually draws attention to periodontal conditions (gingivitis, periodontitis, peri-implant mucositis, and peri-implantitis) that can affect overall health, and strives to improve oral hygiene for all.

A healthier smile starts with you.

Take control of your dental health.

We are here to help.

Associations between periodontitis and systemic diseases - EFP/Wonca/Curasept Project

A recent publication in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology evaluates the associations between periodontal diseases and non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), obstructive sleep apnea and COVID-19 complications.

Together oral health and primary care providers can maintain and improve overall health and quality of life in our mutual patients.

Association between periodontal diseases and cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and respiratory diseases: Consensus report of the Joint Workshop by the European Federation of Periodontology (EFP) and the European arm of the World Organization of Family Doctors (WONCA Europe)

David Herrera, Mariano Sanz, Lior Shapira, Carlos Brotons, Iain Chapple, Thomas Frese, Filippo Graziani, F. D. Richard Hobbs, Olivier Huck, Eva Hummers, Søren Jepsen, Oleg Kravtchenko, Phoebus Madianos, Ana Molina, Mehmet Ungan, Josep Vilaseca, Adam Windak, Shlomo Vinker

A healthier smile starts with you.

Take control of your dental health.

We are here to help.

Happy World Oral Health Day!

A lifetime of oral health promotes overall general health and wellness!

A healthier smile starts with you.

 Take control of your dental health.

 We are here to help.

Happy Holidays!

As we gather with family and friends in the coming weeks, we at Upper Peninsula Periodontics want to wish all of our patients and partner offices a safe and happy holiday season!

We also would like to remind everyone there are a few things you can do at home to help reduce inflammation in your mouth and body. Diet Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids―including oily cold-water fish (salmon, tuna, herring, or sardines) and walnuts―have been found to reduce inflammation. The body does not produce these acids naturally, and they can come only from consuming certain foods. Additionally, antioxidant-rich green tea has been shown to reduce inflammation in the body.

Exercise

People who exercise regularly demonstrate fewer incidences of periodontal disease than those who do not exercise regularly. While moderate exercise may help reduce inflammation in your body, extreme exercise (such as marathon running) can actually increase systemic inflammation. Exercise also reduce stress, another risk factor for periodontal disease. Stress has a negative impact on the body’s ability to fight infection and inflammation. It’s a good idea to discuss your exercise plan with a health professional to ensure that it’s a good fit for your lifestyle.

Brushing and Flossing

The American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) recommends brushing twice a day and flossing daily as a part of a daily oral health routine. You should also undergo a comprehensive periodontal evaluation every year to assess the health of your gums. If periodontal disease does develop, your periodontist can develop an effective treatment plan for your unique needs.

A healthier smile starts with you.

 Take control of your dental health.

 We are here to help.

Gum Disease Linked to Colorectal Cancer: COLDENT Study

A recently published article including the results of a 7 year study from Montreal, Canada reveals that individuals with a history of periodontal disease have an increased risk for colorectal cancer. Over the course of the study, individuals with a history of periodontal disease had a 1.45 times increased risk of developing a new colorectal cancer diagnosis, compared to those who did not have a history of periodontal disease.

The researchers believe that the "putative mechanism of periodontal disease and cancer association involves the spread of periodontal pathogens to extra-oral sites, dissemination of bacteria endotoxins, and release of inflammation products directly into the bloodstream."

A healthier smile starts with you.

Take control of your dental health.

We are here to help.

For access to the article: https://rdcu.be/cNkw0

Idrissi Janati, A., Karp, I., Latulippe, JF. et al. Periodontal disease as a risk factor for sporadic colorectal cancer: results from COLDENT study. Cancer Causes Control 33, 463–472 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-021-01541-y

Pediatric Dental Health

February is pediatric dental health month. Here are some points to consider for parents and caregivers of infants and young children from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

P-E-A-R-L-S of Wisdom

Protect tiny teeth - by caring for your mouth when you’re pregnant. Your child’s future oral health starts with you.

Ensure to wipe your baby’s gums after each meal.

Avoid putting babies to bed with a bottle.

Remember to brush your child’s teeth twice daily with fluoride toothpaste. For children younger than 2 years, consult with your dentist or doctor about when to start using fluoride toothpaste.

Limit drinks and food with added sugars for children. Encourage your child to eat more fruits and vegetables and have fewer fruit drinks, cookies, and candies. This gives your child the best possible start to good oral health.

Schedule your child’s first dental visit by their first birthday or after their first tooth appears.

https://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/publications/features/childrens-dental-health.html

A healthier smile starts with you.

Take control of your dental health.

We are here to help.

Tobacco Use and Periodontal Disease

The most recent statistics regarding use of cigarettes in the United States from 2019 found 14.0% of all adults (34.1 million people) currently smoked cigarettes: 15.3% of men, 12.7% of women.

Here are some key points in regards to cigarette use and periodontal disease:

Cigarette use increases the likelihood of periodontal disease by 2.7 times.

Heavy cigarette use (more than a pack per day) increases the amount of bone loss by 6-7 times.

Cigarette smoking influences composition of the plaque and how your body responds to plaque.

A low-oxygen environment creates a favorable subgingival environment for colonization by anaerobic bacteria (which can be more aggressive) caused by vasoconstriction of the blood vessels as a result of exposure to nicotine and decreased oxygen tension locally.

For more information: https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/index.htm

A healthier smile starts with you.

Take control of your dental health.

We are here to help.

Periodontitis and Diabetes

According to recent Centers for Disease Control publications, 34.2 million people have diabetes in the United States, which is approximately 1 in every 10 people. Furthermore, the number of undiagnosed individuals is approximately 1 in 5. Prediabetes is a condition with elevated blood sugar levels, but not clinically high enough to be categorized into type 2 diabetes. In the United States, 88 million adults (more than 1 in 3) have prediabetes, and more than 8 in 10 adults have elevated blood sugars levels and are unaware. If you have prediabetes, losing weight by eating healthy and being more active can cut your risk of getting type 2 diabetes in half.

Diabetic patients are 2 to 4 times more likely to develop periodontal disease, than compared to non-diabetic individuals. Periodontal disease in diabetic patients tends to present with more severe bone loss and aggressive disease activity. Treating periodontal disease in diabetic patients can improve blood sugar levels, and prevent further bone loss or additional tooth loss.

A healthier smile starts with you.

Take control of your dental health.

We are here to help.

PNAS Study: Human variation in gingival inflammation

A recent publication in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United State of America (https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2012578118), a group based in the United States and Saudi Arabia found that individuals who were exposed to experimental gingivitis responded in three distinct patterns. Groups were broken down into: high, low, and slow responding individuals. All individuals were instructed to stop brushing select teeth at the same time and were evaluated over the course of 35 days.

High (28.6% of study group): individuals presented with the greatest amount of plaque accumulation and highest clinical inflammation

Low (28.6% of study group): individuals presented with the least amount of plaque accumulation and an overall reduced inflammatory response compared to the other groups

Slow (42.9% of study group): individuals presented with delayed increase in plaque accumulation and reduced bacterial cell counts below the gum line

For those of you who think “I brush and floss all the time and there is still plaque and debris on my teeth” you may be a high inflammatory response individuals.

A healthier smile starts with you.

Take control of your dental health.

We are here to help.

Tooth Loss Associated with Cognitive Impairment and Dementia

A recent study published in the The Journal of Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamda.2021.05.009) found that tooth loss and cognitive impairment and dementia are independently associated with one another. This meta-analysis of 14 studies found that individuals with more tooth loss had 1.48 times higher risk of cognitive impairment and 1.28 times high risk of dementia. Individuals that have lost all of their teeth have a 1.40 times higher risk of dementia and 1.54 times higher risk of cognitive impairment.

Preserving the existing dentition and use of dental prosthetic was suggested to reduce the progression of cognitive decline as associated with tooth loss.

A healthier smile starts with you.

Take control of your dental health.

We are here to help.