New Research Suggests Gum Disease May Worsen COPD

HealthDay reported, “New research in mice is pointing to a surprising connection: Gum disease could exacerbate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).” Since “gum disease and COPD are both inflammatory conditions,” Chinese researchers studied “possible links using a mouse model.” According to the article, “In one set of experiments, they found that …

Study Suggests High Levels Of White Blood Cells In Mouth Indicates Risk Of Heart Disease

The New York Post reports, “A new study published in Frontiers in Oral Health suggests that a simple mouthwash could determine a person’s chances of developing heart disease.” Researchers at Mount Royal University in Canada “tested a simple oral rinse to see if signals for cardiovascular disease can be linked to …

Inflammation In The Body May Trigger Or Exacerbate Depression In Brains Of Some Patients, Data Indicate

The Washington Post  reported, “Inflammation in the body may be triggering or exacerbating depression in the brains of some patients,” with clinical data suggesting that “targeting and treating the inflammation may be a way to provide more-precise care.” According to the Post, “It appears that inflammatory agents in the blood …

Oral Germs May Show Bacterial Resistance To Common Antiseptics

DrBicuspid reported, “Streptococcus mutans, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and other oral germs may show bacterial resistance to antiseptics, including chlorhexidine, according to a review published on October 21 in the International Journal of Dental Hygiene.” Additionally, “resistance may rise over time.” The authors wrote, “This scoping review may support clinicians and leaders of …

Poor Periodontal Health Associated With Cognitive Decline, Dementia

HealthDay reports, “Poor periodontal health and tooth loss are associated with increased risks for cognitive decline and dementia, according to a review published online Sept. 8 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.” After conducing “a systematic review of the available longitudinal evidence,” researchers found that poor periodontal health was “associated …

Patients With MS At Increased Risk For Periodontal Disease, Caries

DrBicuspid  reports, “Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) are at greater risk of developing periodontal disease and caries due to difficulties they may have performing oral care and accessing a dentist, according to a clinical paper  published in the British Dental Journal.” Given “the degenerative nature of the disease, clinicians should …

Periodontitis Associated With Respiratory Disease Mortality In Older Patients

MDLinx reports that researchers found periodontitis is associated with total respiratory disease mortality in a retrospective cohort study involving “1,385 patients aged 75 years and above who had a radiographic examination in the largest dental hospital in Shanghai, China, between January 2010 and December 2014.” The findings were published in Experimental …

Study: Gum Bacteria Imbalance Associated With Alzheimer’s Disease Biomarker

Dentistry Today reports researchers at the New York University College of Dentistry and Weill Cornell Medicine have found that “older adults with more harmful than healthy bacteria in their gums are more likely to have evidence for amyloid beta, which is a key biomarker for Alzheimer’s disease, in their cerebrospinal …

Treating Periodontitis In Patients With Diabetes May Reduce Tooth Loss, Microvascular Diseases

HealthDay reported a new study found that “providing nonsurgical periodontal treatment to patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and periodontitis may significantly reduce tooth loss and diabetes-related microvascular diseases via improved glycemic control.” In the study, researchers “built a microsimulation model to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of expanding periodontal treatment coverage …