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

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

Smoking and Gum Disease

Smoking and Sleep Affect Oral Health


Study: Smoking and Lack of Sleep Are Among Factors in Periodontal Disease

By Jennifer Warner

WebMD Health NewsReviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MD May 18, 2007 -- Smoking may be public enemy No. 1 when it comes to the health of your teeth and gums.
A new study shows smoking was the leading lifestyle factor affecting the progression of periodontal disease. Second to smoking in terms of worsening periodontal disease was not getting enough sleep.

"This study points out to patients that there are lifestyle factors other than brushing and flossing that may affect their oral health. Simple lifestyle changes, such as getting more sleep, may help patients improve or protect their oral health," says Preston D. Miller Jr., DDS, president of the American Academy of Periodontology, in a news release. "It is also important to keep these in mind as the body of evidence linking oral disease with systemic diseases continues to grow because ultimately these lifestyle factors might impact a patient's overall health."

Smoking Affects Periodontal Disease

Periodontal disease, which affects the teeth and gums and can ultimately lead to loss of teeth, is thought to be caused by an imbalance of bacteria in the mouth. But recent research has suggested that other factors may also play an important role.

In the study, Muneo Tanaka, DDS, and colleagues at Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, followed a group of 219 factory workers from 1999 to 2003 to examine the relationship between periodontal disease and different lifestyle factors.

Researchers analyzed the impact of a variety of lifestyle factors on the progression of periodontal disease among the workers, including physical exercise, alcohol use, tobacco use, hours of sleep, nutritional balance of the diet, mental stress, hours worked, and eating breakfast.

Out of all the lifestyle factors examined, researchers found the No. 1 one factor affecting the progression of periodontal disease was smoking.

The results, published in the Journal of Periodontology, also showed that more than 41% of those who experienced a worsening of their periodontal disease were current smokers.

Lack of sleep was the second most important lifestyle factor affecting periodontal disease with those who received seven to eight hours of sleep per night showing less periodontal disease progression than those who received six or fewer hours of sleep per night. High stress levels and daily alcohol consumption also had an impact on periodontal disease progression.


To find out more about gum disease and its treatments go to www.drjamesmiller.com/lanap.html

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