Periodontal Disease

Diabetes Can Harm Young Children's Gums

In the study, researchers at Columbia University Medical Center in New York City assessed dental cavities and periodontal disease in 182 children and adolescents (aged 6 to 18) with diabetes, and in 160 young people without diabetes.

Diabetic kids prone to periodontal disease

The children with diabetes had significantly more dental plaque and higher gingival inflammation levels than the comparison group, the team reports in the medical journal Diabetes Care. The diabetic kids also had significantly more teeth that showed evidence of attachment loss, a characteristics sign of periodontal disease -- 5.8 teeth on average in the diabetes group, versus 1.5 in controls.

Tooth loss from gum disease: are you at risk?

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Male gender, smoking, inadequate oral hygiene and rheumatoid arthritis are among the factors associated with an increased risk of losing teeth because of periodontal disease, a study shows.

More than wisdom in those wisdom teeth

Unexpectedly, they found that roughly 25 percent of these young adults with "healthy" wisdom teeth had considerable periodontal disease in this region. This finding flies in the face of national epidemiologic surveys that suggest a much lower rate of oral inflammation in people under age 35. The researchers had expected to find a rate of only about 10 percent in this young study set.

Quitting smoking helps heal chronic gum disease

The bacteria causes the gums to become inflamed, recede and bleed. In more severe cases of periodontal disease the gums recede and the bone that holds the teeth in place gradually erodes, so the teeth either fall out or need to be extracted.

Twins Study Links Causes of Alzheimer's

_Twins who had had early periodontal disease - leading to loose or lost teeth by age 35 - had a fourfold increased risk of dementia. Gum disease is a sign of poor child health in general. It's also an inflammatory disease; inflammation increases the risks of numerous disorders later in life.

Raisins may fight cavities and gum disease - study

Oleanolic acid slowed growth of a bacteria that causes cavities and another that causes periodontal disease. The acid also stopped bacteria from sticking to surfaces, which prevents them from forming plaque.

More Children May Be More Cavities for Mom

The study found that U.S. women who had more children were more likely to have periodontal disease, more missing teeth and more untreated cavities.

Periodontal Bacteria Linked to Heart Disease

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - People who test positive for bacteria that cause periodontal disease also have increased thickness of the carotid artery, which suggests there is a direct relationship between periodontal infection and atherosclerosis, investigators report.

Study Adds Evidence -- Bad Teeth Equal Bad Heart

The study of 657 people who had no history of stroke or heart attack showed that people with more bacteria that cause periodontal disease also had thicker carotid arteries -- a strong indicator of clogged blood vessels.