Oral Health Issues May Indicate “Serious Health” Problems

The New York Post (12/6, Shea) reports that oral health issues can indicate “serious health issues,” ranging from “digestive troubles to diabetes.” The article discusses what health conditions may be revealed by problems with gums, teeth, saliva, lips, and breath. For example, xerostomia may be an indicator of Sjögren’s syndrome, while red and bleeding gums may be a sign of gum disease or diabetes. In another example, the article reports that halitosis may result from poor oral hygiene practices but could also be a sign of acid reflux.

        TIME (12/6) carries a Health.com article that also discusses the association between poor oral health and other health conditions, stating “research suggests that the condition of your gums is connected to a variety of health issues,” such as heart disease. The article stresses the importance of cleaning between teeth every day to remove debris and help prevent plaque buildup.

Melbourne Scientists Publish Research On Therapeutic Dental Vaccine

A release on EurekAlert (12/4) states a team of dental scientists at the Oral Health CRC at the University of Melbourne has developed a vaccine that “could eliminate or at least reduce the need for surgery and antibiotics for severe gum disease.” The vaccine “targets enzymes produced by the bacterium Porphyromonas gingivalis, to trigger an immune response,” which then “produces antibodies that neutralise the pathogen’s destructive toxins.” According to the release, the vaccine has been validated by research published in the journal NPJ Vaccines, and clinical trials could begin in 2018.

Taking Care Of Children’s Oral Health Is Necessary

In an article in U.S. News & World Report, Jonathan Fielding, MD, professor of public health and pediatrics at UCLA, states that “we are not taking care of our children’s teeth,” noting that “tooth decay is among the most common chronic conditions of childhood,” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Poor oral health in children can cause pain and infections and adversely affect school attendance and learning. Dr. Fielding notes that according to the American Dental Association, there are “more than 125 health conditions that may affect or be affected by oral health, including cardiovascular disease, human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, HIV/AIDS, osteoporosis, obesity, and autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis.” In addition, the ADA states that children with tooth decay are more likely to have tooth decay as adults. Given this, Dr. Fielding recommends children practice good dental hygiene and make dietary changes, while also stressing the need for additional public health steps, such as expanding access to fluoridated water, applying fluoride varnish and sealants to teeth, increasing Medicaid reimbursement rates, and expanding the availability of dental coverage.

In its November newsletter, the National Institutes Of Health (11/1) states that although news stories have questioned the benefits of dental flossing due to lacking research, dentists have “seen the teeth and gums of people who floss regularly and those who haven’t,” and “the differences can be striking.” The article notes that “red or swollen gums that bleed easily” can indicate “flossing and better dental habits are needed.” A dental health expert at NIH says, “Cleaning all sides of your teeth, including between your teeth where the toothbrush can’t reach, is a good thing.” While strong evidence showing the benefits of flossing “may be somewhat lacking,” the article observes that “there’s little evidence for any harm or side effects from flossing, and it’s low cost.” The article encourages people to talk to their dentist to address any questions or concerns about their teeth or gums and to learn the proper flossing technique.

Antibiotics: The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly

Antimicrobials, antibiotics among them, are unique among medications in the way they intersect personal and public health. Successful treatment of patients for bacterial infections will result in decreased spread of infections in the community. Not long after the discovery of these miracle drugs, however, patients’ use of antibiotics also created resistant bacteria, which is a serious public health concern. It is estimated that more than 70% of illness-causing bacteria are resistant to at least 1 antibiotic. Numbers may lie, but with an estimated 50,000 deaths due to antibiotic resistance in 2015 in the United States and Europe alone—and a projected death toll of 10 million worldwide every year by 2050—the continued benefits from antibiotics may be dwindling rapidly. In the United States alone, every year 23,000 deaths and more than 2 million infections are attributed to antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The primary reason for the increase in antibiotic resistance is its excessive use.

     

Most Dental Patients Do Not Require Antibiotic Prophylaxis Prior To Procedures

The Washington Post discussed antibiotic prophylaxis, stating that revised guidelines recommend fewer people receive antibiotics before a dental procedure. The article notes that a 2014 American Dental Association panel “reviewed studies comparing the dental histories of people who had contracted infections of artificial joints with those of similar people with replaced joints who remained infection-free,” finding “no statistical connection between dental visits and subsequent joint infections, regardless of whether patients had taken antibiotics.” In 2015, the ADA published new clinical practice guidelines concerning prophylactic antibiotics for patients with prosthetic joints.

        The ADA News reported previously that a continuing education course at ADA 2016 – America’s Dental Meeting will focus on prophylactic antibiotic use. According to the article, “The session, Prophylactic Antibiotic Use and a ‘Different’ Kind of Joint (5352), will be led by Dr. Tom Sollecito, the lead author of a 2015 report from the ADA Council on Scientific Affairs that offers guidelines about the use of prophylactic antibiotics prior to dental procedures in patients with prosthetic joints.”

        The guidelines, “The Use of Prophylactic Antibiotics Prior to Dental Procedures in Patients with Prosthetic Joints,” are available for download at JADA.ADA.org. MouthHealthy.org and the Oral Health Topics on ADA.org also provide information on prophylactic antibiotic use for patients and for dental professionals.

Researchers Finding “Possible Relationships” Between Gum Disease And Several Health Problems

The Washington Post reported that researchers are finding “possible relationships between gum or periodontal disease and diabetes, heart disease, stroke and at-risk pregnancies.” Although “experts are far from understanding what these links might mean,” the links “have been so consistent that some insurers offer extra preventive periodontal care at little or no cost to people with those conditions.” The article pointed out that according to the CDC, “nearly half of all Americans age 30 and older have some form of gum disease; in people 65 and older, 70 percent have some degree of periodontal disease.” The article noted, “Signs of gum disease include bleeding, red or swollen gums; areas where the gum seems separated from the teeth; bad breath; and loose teeth, which can cause changes in your bite, according to the American Dental Association.”

Researchers Find Associations Between Gum Disease And Several Health Problems

The Washington Post reported that researchers are finding potential links “between gum or periodontal disease” and several different types of health problems. Although “experts are far from understanding what these links might mean,” the “links between gum disease and diabetes, at-risk pregnancy, heart disease and stroke have been so consistent that some insurers offer extra preventive periodontal care at little or no cost to people with those conditions.” The article pointed out that according to the CDC “nearly half of all Americans age 30 and older have some form of gum disease; in people 65 and older, 70 percent have some degree of periodontal disease.” The article noted, “Signs of gum disease include bleeding, red or swollen gums; areas where the gum seems separated from the teeth; bad breath; and loose teeth, which can cause changes in your bite, according to the American Dental Association.”

Study Finds Association Between Poor Oral Health And Heart Disease

Men’s Health reported that a new study from Finland suggests poor oral health may affect heart health. Researchers examined “the teeth and the arteries of more than 500 people,” finding that those needing a root canal were “nearly 3 times more likely to have acute coronary syndrome” than “patients with healthy teeth.” Study author Dr. John Liljestrand suggests the bacteria from the tooth infection may spread to other parts of the body, including the heart. Dr. Liljestrand recommends brushing twice a day, flossing daily, and regular dental visits to help reduce the risk of tooth decay.

        In an article in the Omaha (NE) World-Herald (9/24), Dr. Robert Schwab, a physician specializing in internal medicine at Boys Town National Research Hospital, also stated that research suggests poor oral hygiene may impact overall health, including heart health. With this in mind, Dr. Schwab provides tips to promote heart and oral health.