Breast cancer linked to perio disease and tooth loss
November 18, 2010 -- As the body of research linking periodontitis with a host of other disease states -- including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, rheumatoid arthritis, surgical complications, and risk of fetal death -- a new study has added yet another to the list: breast cancer (Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, October 19, 2010).
"To our knowledge, this is the first study on the association between periodontitis and breast cancer," Birgitta Söder, DrMedSc, PhD, Lic Odont Sc, RDH, a professor emeritus at Karolinska Institute, told DrBicuspid.com
The American Cancer Society estimates 209,060 cases of invasive breast cancer in 2010, with more than 40,000 deaths. Breast cancer is rarer in men than women, accounting for less than 1% of breast cancer diagnoses, but both men and women should report any changes in breast tissue to their doctors.
“This is the first study on the association between periodontitis and breast cancer.”
— Birgitta Söder, DrMedSc, PhD,
Karolinska Institute Periodontal disease affects 15% to 35% of adults in industrialized countries. Most often caused by poor hygiene and bacterial infection, disease-active periodontitis also seems to be closely associated with human cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr virus co-infection. It is believed that these viruses act together to suppress immune response to bacterial challenges. Herpes viruses may also contribute to chronic periodontitis, leading the authors to conclude that these viruses and bacteria act together to lead to low-degree chronic inflammation and carcinogenesis.
"In severe periodontitis, probably there will be co-infection closely associated with a virus," Dr. Söder said.
The prospective study by Dr. Söder and colleagues followed 3,273 randomly selected subjects from 1985 to 2001 who were 30-40 years of age at baseline. At baseline, 1,676 individuals underwent a clinical oral examination (group A); 1,597 subjects were not clinically examined but were registered (group B).
In total, 26 subjects in group A and 15 subjects in group B had breast cancer. The incidence of breast cancer was 1.75% in subjects who had periodontal disease and/or any missing molars, and 0 in subjects who had periodontal disease but had no missing molars. For periodontally healthy subjects with no missing teeth, the breast cancer incidence was 1%. For group B, the incidence was 0.94%.
Of the subjects with periodontal disease and any missing molars in the mandible, 5.5% had breast cancer, compared with 0.5% of the subjects who had periodontal disease but no missing molars in the mandible (p < 0.02). Chronic periodontal disease indicated by missing molars seemed to associate statistically with breast cancer, the researchers concluded.
Smoking a risk factor?
The link between smoking and cancer has not been fully accounted for in many studies relating periodontal disease to cancer, according to Suellan Go Yao, DMD, and James Burke Fine, DMD, of Columbia University (Compendium of Continuing Education in Dentistry, July/August 2010, Vol. 31:6, pp. 436-444).
"Smoking is a known risk factor for many cancers as well as for periodontal disease and tooth loss," they wrote.
In the Karolinska study, the researchers controlled for smoking as a confounding variable by using multiple logistic regression and dichotomizing smokers into ever smokers (current and former smokers) and never smokers, and found no statistical difference between the two groups. Of the subjects with breast cancer, 42.8% were smokers, 17.9% were former smokers, and 39.3% had never smoked. These numbers were similar to the group with no breast cancer.
Similarly, a study by the American Association for Cancer Research also showed smoking to be a less significant variable than periodontal disease with head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers, and Prevention, September 2009, Vol. 18:9, pp. 2406-2412).
And in 2007, researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health found periodontal disease to be independently associated with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer overall, including in people who had never smoked (Journal of the National Cancer Institute, January 17, 2007, Vol. 99:2, pp. 171-175).
"Periodontitis in its advanced form can be viewed as a hyperinflammatory response to bacteria," Dr. Fine told DrBicuspid.com. "The byproducts of this oral inflammation enter the bloodstream and can create problems at distant sites. Inflammation may enhance cellular proliferation and mutagenesis, allowing for the development and spread of cancer."
Copyright © 2010 DrBicuspid.com
By: Erin Archer, R.N., DrBicuspid.com contributing writer
For more information on gum disease and its treatment please go to www.drjamesmiller.com/lanap.html
Monday, November 22, 2010
Monday, November 15, 2010
Periodontal Disease and Sex Hormones
'Landmark' Study Points to Role of Sex Hormones in Higher Risk of Gum Disease in Men
TEXT SIZE By: University of Maryland Baltimore
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Newswise - Sex hormones may be the biological reason why men are at greater risk than women for destructive periodontitis, an infection of the gums, according to researchers at the University of Maryland Dental School.
To establish better management and risk assessment models for periodontal disease, Harlan Shiau, DDS, DMedSc, assistant professor, and Mark Reynolds, DDS, PhD, MA, professor at the Dental School, have published the first comprehensive review of gender differences in the development and progression of the destructive periodontal disease.
In a review paper in the Journal of Periodontology, the authors examine evidence for a biologic basis for a sexual dimorphism, or the differences in susceptibility, to periodontal disease between men and women. They conclude that sex steroids exert effects on multiple ways on the immune system regulation of inflammation. They also conclude that the root of the difference may be genetic.
"Differential gene regulation, particularly in sex steroid-responsive genes, could likely play a part in the observed sexual dimorphism of destructive periodontal disease," said Shiau.
"We think it is a plausible explanation," he added. The observation of men "having worse gum disease than women" was generally accepted by dental clinicians previously, says Shiau, "but we wondered if the traditional explanations were adequate. This study provides health care professionals with important comparative data for estimating gender-related differences in risk for destructive periodontal disease."
Prior to the current review paper, the researchers conducted a systematic review of published population studies on the prevalence of periodontal disease. In their analysis they established that men, indeed, have a greater prevalence of periodontal disease than women globally.
Shiau and Reynolds explored potential biologic explanations by drawing from the extensive body of literature in autoimmune disease research, where there also exists sexual dimorphism in disease prevalence.
"Also, we considered the competing hypothesis that the environment explains the dimorphism, such as the observation that men have worse oral hygiene and compliance than women. However, there exist population studies, which control for potential co-variants, like these, and have still yielded significant gender effects." Shiau explains.
"The innate immune response plays a considerable role in the pathogenesis of periodontal disease. The literature seems to indicate that a heightened innate immune response in men compared to women, as well as potential differences in regulation of amplification and termination of inflammation, provide a sound biologic basis for sex differences in periodontal disease progression," says Shiau.
Mark Reynolds is chair of the Dental School's Department of Periodontics.
For more information contact
www.drjamesmiller.com/lanap.html
TEXT SIZE By: University of Maryland Baltimore
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Newswise - Sex hormones may be the biological reason why men are at greater risk than women for destructive periodontitis, an infection of the gums, according to researchers at the University of Maryland Dental School.
To establish better management and risk assessment models for periodontal disease, Harlan Shiau, DDS, DMedSc, assistant professor, and Mark Reynolds, DDS, PhD, MA, professor at the Dental School, have published the first comprehensive review of gender differences in the development and progression of the destructive periodontal disease.
In a review paper in the Journal of Periodontology, the authors examine evidence for a biologic basis for a sexual dimorphism, or the differences in susceptibility, to periodontal disease between men and women. They conclude that sex steroids exert effects on multiple ways on the immune system regulation of inflammation. They also conclude that the root of the difference may be genetic.
"Differential gene regulation, particularly in sex steroid-responsive genes, could likely play a part in the observed sexual dimorphism of destructive periodontal disease," said Shiau.
"We think it is a plausible explanation," he added. The observation of men "having worse gum disease than women" was generally accepted by dental clinicians previously, says Shiau, "but we wondered if the traditional explanations were adequate. This study provides health care professionals with important comparative data for estimating gender-related differences in risk for destructive periodontal disease."
Prior to the current review paper, the researchers conducted a systematic review of published population studies on the prevalence of periodontal disease. In their analysis they established that men, indeed, have a greater prevalence of periodontal disease than women globally.
Shiau and Reynolds explored potential biologic explanations by drawing from the extensive body of literature in autoimmune disease research, where there also exists sexual dimorphism in disease prevalence.
"Also, we considered the competing hypothesis that the environment explains the dimorphism, such as the observation that men have worse oral hygiene and compliance than women. However, there exist population studies, which control for potential co-variants, like these, and have still yielded significant gender effects." Shiau explains.
"The innate immune response plays a considerable role in the pathogenesis of periodontal disease. The literature seems to indicate that a heightened innate immune response in men compared to women, as well as potential differences in regulation of amplification and termination of inflammation, provide a sound biologic basis for sex differences in periodontal disease progression," says Shiau.
Mark Reynolds is chair of the Dental School's Department of Periodontics.
For more information contact
www.drjamesmiller.com/lanap.html
Gum Disease and Prostitis Link
News in Brief
Prostatitis Linked to Periodontitis
Delicia Honen YardJune 10, 2010 Print Email Reprint Permissions
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Men with the most severe form of prostatitis also showed signs of periodontitis, raising the possibility that the inflammation characterizing the two conditions may be related. In an online report publish in the Journal of Periodontology, Nabil F. Bassada, DDS, MSD, of Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine in Cleveland, and colleagues noted that in their small study of 35 men, those with moderate or severe prostatitis and poor periodontal health had significantly higher mean PSA levels than those with neither or only one condition.
For more information concerning periodontal disease and the LANAP procedure to treat the disease go to www.drjamesmiller.com/lanap.html
Prostatitis Linked to Periodontitis
Delicia Honen YardJune 10, 2010 Print Email Reprint Permissions
More In Urology•Cardiovascular Events Halt Study of Testosterone Gel
•New Varicocele Technique Shows Promise
•Research on a New Drug For Nocturia Advances
•Robotic Pyeloplasty Has Advantages
•CT Preferred for Defining Adrenal Masses
Men with the most severe form of prostatitis also showed signs of periodontitis, raising the possibility that the inflammation characterizing the two conditions may be related. In an online report publish in the Journal of Periodontology, Nabil F. Bassada, DDS, MSD, of Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine in Cleveland, and colleagues noted that in their small study of 35 men, those with moderate or severe prostatitis and poor periodontal health had significantly higher mean PSA levels than those with neither or only one condition.
For more information concerning periodontal disease and the LANAP procedure to treat the disease go to www.drjamesmiller.com/lanap.html
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Possible Link Between Gum Disease and Alzheimer's
Gum disease may increase Alzheimer’s risk
New research finds that periodontal disease may contribute to Alzheimer’s disease, brain inflammation, and neurodegeneration. (Credit: iStockphoto)
NYU (US)—Periodontal (gum) disease may increase the risk of cognitive dysfunction associated with Alzheimer’s disease in healthy individuals as well as in those who already are cognitively impaired.
Researchers examined 20 years of data and found fresh evidence that links gum disease to brain inflammation, neurodegeneration, and Alzheimer’s disease.
“The research suggests that cognitively normal subjects with periodontal inflammation are at an increased risk of lower cognitive function compared to cognitively normal subjects with little or no periodontal inflammation,” says Angela. Kamer, assistant professor of periodontology and implant dentistry at New York University.
The study builds on earlier research that found that subjects with Alzheimer’s disease had a significantly higher level of antibodies and inflammatory molecules associated with periodontal disease in their plasma compared to healthy people.
The latest findings are based on an analysis of data on periodontal inflammation and cognitive function in 152 subjects in the Glostrop Aging Study, which has been gathering medical, psychological, oral health, and social data on Danish men and women.
Kamer’s team compared cognitive function at ages 50 and 70, using the Digit Symbol Test, or DST, a part of the standard measurement of adult IQ. The DST assesses how quickly subjects can link a series of digits.
Periodontal inflammation at age 70 was found to be strongly associated with lower DST scores at age 70. Subjects with periodontal inflammation were nine times more likely to test in the lower range of the DST compared to subjects with little or no periodontal inflammation.
This strong association held true—even in those subjects who had other risk factors linked to lower DST scores, including obesity, cigarette smoking, and tooth loss unrelated to gum inflammation—and also for those who had a low DST score at age 50.
Kamer plans to conduct a follow-up study involving a larger, more ethnically diverse group of subjects, to further examine the connection between periodontal disease and low cognition.
Researchers from Copenhagen University contributed to the study.
For more information concerning gum disease and the latest treatment go to www.drjamesmiller.com/lanap.html
New research finds that periodontal disease may contribute to Alzheimer’s disease, brain inflammation, and neurodegeneration. (Credit: iStockphoto)
NYU (US)—Periodontal (gum) disease may increase the risk of cognitive dysfunction associated with Alzheimer’s disease in healthy individuals as well as in those who already are cognitively impaired.
Researchers examined 20 years of data and found fresh evidence that links gum disease to brain inflammation, neurodegeneration, and Alzheimer’s disease.
“The research suggests that cognitively normal subjects with periodontal inflammation are at an increased risk of lower cognitive function compared to cognitively normal subjects with little or no periodontal inflammation,” says Angela. Kamer, assistant professor of periodontology and implant dentistry at New York University.
The study builds on earlier research that found that subjects with Alzheimer’s disease had a significantly higher level of antibodies and inflammatory molecules associated with periodontal disease in their plasma compared to healthy people.
The latest findings are based on an analysis of data on periodontal inflammation and cognitive function in 152 subjects in the Glostrop Aging Study, which has been gathering medical, psychological, oral health, and social data on Danish men and women.
Kamer’s team compared cognitive function at ages 50 and 70, using the Digit Symbol Test, or DST, a part of the standard measurement of adult IQ. The DST assesses how quickly subjects can link a series of digits.
Periodontal inflammation at age 70 was found to be strongly associated with lower DST scores at age 70. Subjects with periodontal inflammation were nine times more likely to test in the lower range of the DST compared to subjects with little or no periodontal inflammation.
This strong association held true—even in those subjects who had other risk factors linked to lower DST scores, including obesity, cigarette smoking, and tooth loss unrelated to gum inflammation—and also for those who had a low DST score at age 50.
Kamer plans to conduct a follow-up study involving a larger, more ethnically diverse group of subjects, to further examine the connection between periodontal disease and low cognition.
Researchers from Copenhagen University contributed to the study.
For more information concerning gum disease and the latest treatment go to www.drjamesmiller.com/lanap.html
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
LANAP: What is it?
What is L.A.N.A.P.?
Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure ( L.A.N.A.P. ) is an amazing breakthrough in gum ( periodontal ) treatment. If you have been told you need periodontal surgery, involving a scalpel and sutures, L.A.N.A.P. is a laser alternative you need to learn about. Did you know that 50% of Americans has periodontal disease.
Periodontal disease starts off as plaque, an opaque film that is constantly forming in our mouths. The plaque eventually hardens, forming tartar or calculus. These calculus deposits harbor bacteria which infects the gums. In early stages, this is called Gingivitis, characterized by red, swollen gums that bleed when you brush your teeth. Many people experience bad breath and an unpleasant taste in their mouths as well. Without treatment, Gingivitis progresses to Periodontitis, a much more serious form of gum disease where periodontal pockets are formed, separating teeth from the gums and supporting bone structure. Without treatement, the infection becomes severe and the pockets deepen, eventually, resulting in tooth loss.
To repair the damage caused by gum disease is to get rid of the infection and close the periodontal pockets. Until now, this meant surgery and sutures. But today, LASER PERIODONTAL THERAPY OR LANAP, a patient friendly, minimally invasive procedure that is a great improvement over traditional gum surgery.
Dr. James Miller will schedule you a complimentary consultation to explain how the laser works and give you a demonstration. If you a candidate ( you have gum disease) for LANAP the first treatment involves a local anesthetic to eliminate any possible discomfort. A general anesthetic is not necessary as LASER PERIODONTAL THERAPY OR LANAP is much less traumatic. A tiny laser (about the thickness of three hairs) is inserted between the tooth and gum, and the infection is cleared away. The procedure is fast, it takes just two 2-hour sessions. One half of the mouth is treated at a time...most patients feel good enough to back to work afterwards.
Dr. James B. Miller is a Licensed Arizona General Dentist praciticing in Scottsdale Arizona. He can be reached at james@drjamesmiller.com or at www.drjamesmiller.com/lanap.html
Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure ( L.A.N.A.P. ) is an amazing breakthrough in gum ( periodontal ) treatment. If you have been told you need periodontal surgery, involving a scalpel and sutures, L.A.N.A.P. is a laser alternative you need to learn about. Did you know that 50% of Americans has periodontal disease.
Periodontal disease starts off as plaque, an opaque film that is constantly forming in our mouths. The plaque eventually hardens, forming tartar or calculus. These calculus deposits harbor bacteria which infects the gums. In early stages, this is called Gingivitis, characterized by red, swollen gums that bleed when you brush your teeth. Many people experience bad breath and an unpleasant taste in their mouths as well. Without treatment, Gingivitis progresses to Periodontitis, a much more serious form of gum disease where periodontal pockets are formed, separating teeth from the gums and supporting bone structure. Without treatement, the infection becomes severe and the pockets deepen, eventually, resulting in tooth loss.
To repair the damage caused by gum disease is to get rid of the infection and close the periodontal pockets. Until now, this meant surgery and sutures. But today, LASER PERIODONTAL THERAPY OR LANAP, a patient friendly, minimally invasive procedure that is a great improvement over traditional gum surgery.
Dr. James Miller will schedule you a complimentary consultation to explain how the laser works and give you a demonstration. If you a candidate ( you have gum disease) for LANAP the first treatment involves a local anesthetic to eliminate any possible discomfort. A general anesthetic is not necessary as LASER PERIODONTAL THERAPY OR LANAP is much less traumatic. A tiny laser (about the thickness of three hairs) is inserted between the tooth and gum, and the infection is cleared away. The procedure is fast, it takes just two 2-hour sessions. One half of the mouth is treated at a time...most patients feel good enough to back to work afterwards.
Dr. James B. Miller is a Licensed Arizona General Dentist praciticing in Scottsdale Arizona. He can be reached at james@drjamesmiller.com or at www.drjamesmiller.com/lanap.html
Fatty Fish and Nuts May Prevent Gum Disease
Fatty Fish, Nuts May Prevent Gum Disease
Study Shows Diet High in Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids May Reduce Risk for Periodontitis
By Jennifer Warner
WebMD Health NewsReviewed by Laura J. Martin, MDOct. 26, 2010 -- A new study suggests eating foods rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), such as salmon and nuts, may help prevent gum disease or periodontitis.
Periodontitis is a common type of gum disease in which the gum tissue separates from the teeth and allows bacteria to build up. If untreated, the condition can lead to bone and tooth loss.
Researchers found that people whose diets were rich in PUFAs were as much as 30% less likely to have gum disease than those who ate little or none of this type of fat.
“We found that n-3 fatty acid intake, particularly docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), are inversely associated with periodontitis in the U.S. population,” says researcher Asghar Z. Naqvi, MPH, MNS, of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, in a news release.
"A dietary therapy, if effective, might be a less expensive and safer method for the prevention and treatment of periodontitis," says Naqvi. “To date, the treatment of periodontitis has primarily involved mechanical cleaning and local antibiotic application."
Researchers say polyunsaturated fats have already been shown to have beneficial effects on other types of inflammatory conditions, such as heart disease, and they may also play a role in fighting the inflammation that causes gum disease.
"Given the evidence indicating a role for n-3 fatty acids in other chronic inflammatory conditions, it is possible that treating periodontitis with n-3 fatty acids could have the added benefit of preventing other chronic diseases associated with inflammation, including stroke as well,” says Naqvi.
Slideshow: Top Problems in Your Mouth
PUFAs and Your Gums
In the study, published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, researchers compared fatty acid intake and risk of gum disease in 9,182 adults who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 1999 to 2004.
The results showed those who ate moderate to high amounts of the fatty acid DHA through diet or fish oil supplements were up to 30% less likely to have gum disease than those who ate lower amounts. Those whose diets were rich in the EPA had up to a 23% lower risk of periodontitis.
Researchers found that even modest levels of these PUFAs (equivalent to less than 40 milligrams per day for DHA and 10 milligrams per day for EPA) were enough to significantly reduce the risk of gum disease.
Foods that are naturally high in polyunsaturated fatty acids like DHA and EPA include fatty fish, nuts, margarine, and peanut butter.
For more information on gum disease and it treatment please visit www.drjamesmiller.com/lanap.html
Study Shows Diet High in Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids May Reduce Risk for Periodontitis
By Jennifer Warner
WebMD Health NewsReviewed by Laura J. Martin, MDOct. 26, 2010 -- A new study suggests eating foods rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), such as salmon and nuts, may help prevent gum disease or periodontitis.
Periodontitis is a common type of gum disease in which the gum tissue separates from the teeth and allows bacteria to build up. If untreated, the condition can lead to bone and tooth loss.
Researchers found that people whose diets were rich in PUFAs were as much as 30% less likely to have gum disease than those who ate little or none of this type of fat.
“We found that n-3 fatty acid intake, particularly docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), are inversely associated with periodontitis in the U.S. population,” says researcher Asghar Z. Naqvi, MPH, MNS, of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, in a news release.
"A dietary therapy, if effective, might be a less expensive and safer method for the prevention and treatment of periodontitis," says Naqvi. “To date, the treatment of periodontitis has primarily involved mechanical cleaning and local antibiotic application."
Researchers say polyunsaturated fats have already been shown to have beneficial effects on other types of inflammatory conditions, such as heart disease, and they may also play a role in fighting the inflammation that causes gum disease.
"Given the evidence indicating a role for n-3 fatty acids in other chronic inflammatory conditions, it is possible that treating periodontitis with n-3 fatty acids could have the added benefit of preventing other chronic diseases associated with inflammation, including stroke as well,” says Naqvi.
Slideshow: Top Problems in Your Mouth
PUFAs and Your Gums
In the study, published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, researchers compared fatty acid intake and risk of gum disease in 9,182 adults who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 1999 to 2004.
The results showed those who ate moderate to high amounts of the fatty acid DHA through diet or fish oil supplements were up to 30% less likely to have gum disease than those who ate lower amounts. Those whose diets were rich in the EPA had up to a 23% lower risk of periodontitis.
Researchers found that even modest levels of these PUFAs (equivalent to less than 40 milligrams per day for DHA and 10 milligrams per day for EPA) were enough to significantly reduce the risk of gum disease.
Foods that are naturally high in polyunsaturated fatty acids like DHA and EPA include fatty fish, nuts, margarine, and peanut butter.
For more information on gum disease and it treatment please visit www.drjamesmiller.com/lanap.html
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Want To Be Sexier....Improve your Oral Hygiene
If you're thinking about being romantic tonight, you might want to make sure your oral hygiene is in check. Based on a new survey, oral hygiene is significantly preferred over the traditional romantic overtures to set the mood, such as dimming the lights, lighting candles, wearing perfume or playing romantic music.
"The results of this study reinforced some of what we already knew - that most consumers simply don't like to floss with string - but we were surprised at how important oral hygiene was in order to be attractive to your significant other"
The national survey, which was fielded by Kelton Research, examined Americans' views on oral healthcare and revealed that a clean mouth was most important in maintaining a healthy relationship. Close to six in ten, or 59 percent, would be most disturbed by their partner not brushing or flossing his or her teeth for a week, as compared to only 24 percent who would be most perturbed if their significant other passed on wearing deodorant. Far fewer were bothered by their partner skipping shaving, hair combing or trimming toe nails for a week, at nine percent, six percent and two percent, respectively.
The Waterpik® Sexy Smile Survey also found that while they are quick to judge the flossing habits of their significant others, the majority of Americans actually have a lot of ups and downs in their own relationship with floss. Key findings on flossing and oral healthcare include:
- Only When I'm Desperate. Americans are most likely to floss just before visiting the dentist (51 percent), and when they have food stuck in between their teeth or have bad breath (64 percent), which could mean their mouths are not as fresh as they should be most other times!
- Below Grade. Nearly six in ten (58 percent) Americans say they deserve a C or lower for the efforts they make to floss their teeth on a daily basis. In fact, about one in five (18 percent) give themselves a failing grade.
- Unpleasant Act. Among people who floss their teeth, close to six in ten (57 percent) say that floss makes their gums bleed, it gets stuck between their teeth, (52 percent), and it caused little bits of food to fly onto the mirror (42 percent). Yuck!
- We Want an Alternative. In fact, Americans would pay an average of $53 for an alternative to regular string floss (which you can usually get for free from your dentist) if it meant that the process was faster, easier and more effective.
"The results of this study reinforced some of what we already knew - that most consumers simply don't like to floss with string - but we were surprised at how important oral hygiene was in order to be attractive to your significant other," said Jay McCulloch, Vice President of Marketing for Water Pik Oral Health Products. "The Waterpik® Water Flosser is a great option for those who are struggling with traditional floss. It's easy to use, it's clinically proven to be significantly more effective than string floss, and it takes only one minute per day."
The Waterpik® Water Flosser utilizes pulsating water to clean deep between teeth and below the gumline to remove plaque and debris where traditional brushing and flossing can't reach.
About The Water Survey
The Waterpik® Sexy Smile Survey was conducted by Kelton Research between September 10 and September 16, 2010 among 1,001 U.S. adults using an email invitation and an online survey. Quotas are set to ensure reliable and accurate representation of the total U.S. population ages 18 and over. Results of any sample are subject to sampling variation. The magnitude of the variation is measurable and is affected by the number of interviews and the level of the percentages expressing the results. In this particular study, the chances are 95 in 100 that a survey result does not vary, plus or minus, by more than 3.1 percentage points from the result that would be obtained if interviews had been conducted with all persons in the universe represented by the sample.
Source:
Kelton Research
Water Pik, Inc.
For more information about periodontal disease please visit www.drjamesmiller.com/lanap.html
"The results of this study reinforced some of what we already knew - that most consumers simply don't like to floss with string - but we were surprised at how important oral hygiene was in order to be attractive to your significant other"
The national survey, which was fielded by Kelton Research, examined Americans' views on oral healthcare and revealed that a clean mouth was most important in maintaining a healthy relationship. Close to six in ten, or 59 percent, would be most disturbed by their partner not brushing or flossing his or her teeth for a week, as compared to only 24 percent who would be most perturbed if their significant other passed on wearing deodorant. Far fewer were bothered by their partner skipping shaving, hair combing or trimming toe nails for a week, at nine percent, six percent and two percent, respectively.
The Waterpik® Sexy Smile Survey also found that while they are quick to judge the flossing habits of their significant others, the majority of Americans actually have a lot of ups and downs in their own relationship with floss. Key findings on flossing and oral healthcare include:
- Only When I'm Desperate. Americans are most likely to floss just before visiting the dentist (51 percent), and when they have food stuck in between their teeth or have bad breath (64 percent), which could mean their mouths are not as fresh as they should be most other times!
- Below Grade. Nearly six in ten (58 percent) Americans say they deserve a C or lower for the efforts they make to floss their teeth on a daily basis. In fact, about one in five (18 percent) give themselves a failing grade.
- Unpleasant Act. Among people who floss their teeth, close to six in ten (57 percent) say that floss makes their gums bleed, it gets stuck between their teeth, (52 percent), and it caused little bits of food to fly onto the mirror (42 percent). Yuck!
- We Want an Alternative. In fact, Americans would pay an average of $53 for an alternative to regular string floss (which you can usually get for free from your dentist) if it meant that the process was faster, easier and more effective.
"The results of this study reinforced some of what we already knew - that most consumers simply don't like to floss with string - but we were surprised at how important oral hygiene was in order to be attractive to your significant other," said Jay McCulloch, Vice President of Marketing for Water Pik Oral Health Products. "The Waterpik® Water Flosser is a great option for those who are struggling with traditional floss. It's easy to use, it's clinically proven to be significantly more effective than string floss, and it takes only one minute per day."
The Waterpik® Water Flosser utilizes pulsating water to clean deep between teeth and below the gumline to remove plaque and debris where traditional brushing and flossing can't reach.
About The Water Survey
The Waterpik® Sexy Smile Survey was conducted by Kelton Research between September 10 and September 16, 2010 among 1,001 U.S. adults using an email invitation and an online survey. Quotas are set to ensure reliable and accurate representation of the total U.S. population ages 18 and over. Results of any sample are subject to sampling variation. The magnitude of the variation is measurable and is affected by the number of interviews and the level of the percentages expressing the results. In this particular study, the chances are 95 in 100 that a survey result does not vary, plus or minus, by more than 3.1 percentage points from the result that would be obtained if interviews had been conducted with all persons in the universe represented by the sample.
Source:
Kelton Research
Water Pik, Inc.
For more information about periodontal disease please visit www.drjamesmiller.com/lanap.html
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