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.

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.

Avoiding dental treatment?

Scared of the dentist? Welcome to the club! Half of Americans feel this way. Within a smaller group of individuals this fear is so severe that they refuse to be seen by a dentist. Delaying dental treatment can cause unnecessary pain and discomfort, could lead to more involved treatment and higher overall cost. There are a variety of concerns patients have, which ranges from previous experiences, to not wanting to accept reality that something may be wrong. The severity of anxiety or fear of the dentist can vary from slightly apprehensive to completely debilitating. Other ways to ease your nerves are to ask questions over the phone or read up on various topics/subjects to inform yourself. Share your concerns with our office staff, and we will do everything we can to help make your appointment more comfortable.

A healthier smile starts with you.

Take control of your dental health.

We are here to help.

Sore teeth? Sore jaw?

Clenching.

Grinding.

Gritting.

These are all common names for bruxism, or occlusal parafunction, which occurs when a person positions their teeth together and applies significant force.

Jaw clicks?

Jaw pops?

Jaw locks?

These sounds and sensations could be signs that there are dysfunction and/or deterioration of the masticatory system (muscles, ligaments, bones, connective tissue, teeth, and nerves). Intervention can be as simple as stress management or more involved depending on the severity and symptoms. Both temporomandibular joints work in conjunction with one another, and excessive stress, strain, or trauma can damage one or both of them. If you have concerns with your teeth or jaw joint, you should reach out to your dental provider for a thorough evaluation.

A healthier smile starts with you.

Take control of your dental health.

We are here to help.

Mouth rinses: so many options to choose from...

Question: Should I use _____________ mouth rinse?

Answer: That depends. Not to dodge the questions, however, some self-assessment questions should be posed: Is your current oral hygiene habits effective? Are you missing areas of your mouth that need attention? Is plaque control a problem?

If you have wandered down the dental supply isle at your local grocery store or pharmacy lately, the number of options are a bit overwhelming. We suggest that you first identify what is the primary goal of this rinse: Plaque control? Whitening? Anti-microbial? Sensitivity? Fluoride supplement? After narrowing your search, look for options that fit your desired criteria. As for frequency of rinsing, ask your dentist what would be right for you and your situation. Other thoughts on mouth rinses include: do you have a dry mouth? are your gums sensitive? do you have a lot of dental restorations (fillings and/or crowns)? Alcohol based rinses can exacerbate the effects of dry mouth and can be hard on the gums in certain individuals. Many options are now formulated to be alcohol free, to alleviate dry mouth and irritation to the gums.

If you have questions regarding your daily oral hygiene routine and which products are right for you, reach out to your dental provider and ask directed questions.

A healthier smile starts with you.

Take control of your dental health.

We are here to help.

COVID-19 Infection and Transmission

The oral cavity is a site for infection and replication of SARS-CoV-2, and subsequently provides a risk for transmission to others due to aerosolized saliva.

A recent study (Huang et al. preprint) which was a multicenter study looking into the role of the oral cavity in infection and transmission of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes the disease COVID-19).

A lead researcher on the project, Dr. Kevin Byrd, based out of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill Adams School of Dentistry and the American Dental Association Science and Research Institute found that SARS-CoV-2 can infect the oral mucosa (gums, lips, cheeks, tongue, tonsils), major, and minor salivary glands.

They discussed the role that the oral cavity played in extraoral transmission, through aerosol of saliva, and the transmission of the virus to the lungs and gut. They observed that individuals who presented with SARS-CoV-2 in their saliva were approximately 6.5X more likely to report a loss of taste or smell.

Wide reports of various symptoms suggest that each individual may have a different immune response or pattern of infection. Further research into these routes of infection and transmission, as well as human immune response to SARS-CoV-2 will certainly be studied.

A healthier smile starts with you.

Take control of your dental health.

We are here to help.