Something in the Air

Good Oral Care Helps Promote Healthier Lungs

If you are among the many who have chronic – or even occasional – respiratory illness, new research suggests the issue may start in your mouth.

According to research recorded in the Journal of Periodontology, those with respiratory diseases tend to have worse periodontal health than those with healthier lungs. Research showed that periodontal disease may increase the risk for respiratory infections, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and pneumonia. These infections, which are caused when bacteria from the upper throat are inhaled into the lower respiratory tract, can be severely debilitating and are one of the leading causes of death.

Researchers found that bacterial respiratory infections could, in fact, be acquired through aspiration (inhaling) of fine droplets from the mouth and throat into the lungs. These droplets contain germs that can breed and multiply within the lungs to cause damage. Recent research suggests that bacteria found in the throat, as well as bacteria found in the mouth, can be drawn into the lower respiratory tract, causing infections or worsen existing lung conditions. People with respiratory diseases, such as COPD, typically suffer from lowered immunity, making it difficult to eliminate bacteria from the lungs.

The study included 200 participants between the ages of 20 and 60 with at least 20 natural teeth. Half of the participants were hospitalized patients with a respiratory disease such as pneumonia, COPD, or acute bronchitis, and the other half were healthy control subjects with no history of respiratory disease. Each participant underwent a comprehensive oral evaluation to measure periodontal health status.

The journal says researchers believe oral pathogens associated with periodontal disease can increase the risk of developing or exacerbating respiratory disease.

COPD causes persistent obstruction of the airways. The main cause of this disease is thought to be long-term smoking or long-term exposure to certain toxins and pollutants. The chemicals from the cigarette smoke or air pollution irritate the airways to cause chronic inflammation, which eventually leads to obstruction. Tissue damaged by COPD cannot be rejuvenated.

Researchers urge those with persistent respiratory illness to choose good oral care habits, like twice daily brushing and flossing.

Don’t Skip Appointments!

Are Regular Dental Cleanings Really That Important?

If you are among of the many who brush twice daily and floss once daily, you might think that it’s OK to cut back on trips to the dentist, which, at best, can involve a small investment in time and money. “It’s just a cleaning,” you may reason, as you cancel your appointment, hoping, perhaps, to get back on schedule the next year.

Even if you are diligent with your at-home oral care, routine cleanings are important, and, as far as dentists and hygienists are concerned, non-negotiable.

4 Reasons Not to Skip a Dental Cleaning

Taking Good Care of Your Mouth Means Taking Good Care of Yourself!

Research is now backing what dentists have long known – those with good tooth and gum health have better heart health, are at a lower risk for having a stroke and are even at a lower risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Having a dental cleaning every six months allows the dentist to ensure that your gums are healthy and that any sign of periodontal disease is addressed as soon as possible to avoid progression of the condition.

Early Treatment is Cheaper & Easier Than the Alternative

Minor dental complications, like cavities, can easily be addressed if they are caught early, and the key to catching them early is having them examined by a dentist at least every six months. Treating common dental and periodontal conditions in their early stages can save a significant amount of time and money.

Keep Your Pearly Whites White

Regular dental cleanings help reduce the accumulation of tooth stains – it’s that simple.

Dentists Screen for Oral Cancer

Screening for this deadly disease is far more simple than treating it. During your cleaning and examination, your dentist is screening your head, neck and the inside of your mouth for anything that might indicate further testing is required for oral cancer.

Lower Your Risk of Periodontal Disease with Dietary Changes

Whole Grains for Heart Health and Gum Health

Looking for a healthy dietary change that can also improve your gum health? Researchers say look no further than whole grains.

In a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers announced that, because diabetes and hyperglycemia increase the risk of periodontal inflammation, increasing your daily intake of whole grains and fiber can help offset the risk of developing periodontal disease.

Study participants who replaced their intake of processed grains, like white bread and regular pasta, with whole grains, like whole-grain bread and whole wheat pasta, had a 23% reduction in the incidence of periodontal disease, compared to those who continued to eat processed grains.

Those with the greatest risk reduction ate four servings of whole grains on average by simply replacing servings of processed grains with whole grains. They did not increase their caloric intake when making the switch to whole grains.

How Do Whole Grains Affect Gum Health?

Whole grains lower levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) in the blood, a marker of inflammation associated with periodontal disease, along with high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis.

To get more good grains in your diet, make all of your grains whole grains. Eat oatmeal, brown rice, whole-grain cereals, whole-grain breads and whole-wheat crackers – all foods where the majority of the grain comes from whole grain.

Eating a diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, along with lean proteins like fish and poultry will also lower inflammation and decrease your risk of inflammation-related diseases.

Trunk Flexibility Tied to Heart Health

Study Shows a Simple Flexibility Test May Determine Artery Health

According to a study by the National Institute of Health and Nutrition in Tokyo, Japan which was published in the American Journal of Physiology (October 2009; 297(4):1314-8), individuals with less muscle flexibility had higher risks of artery stiffness.

Researchers tested the ability of participants to touch their toes with their fingertips while in a seated position, and their legs flat on the floor. Those with poor truck or body flexibility when tested also had higher arterial stiffness and higher blood pressure.

Arteries stiffen as a consequence of age and arteriosclerosis. Age related stiffness occurs when the elastic fibers within the arterial wall (elastin) begin to fray due to mechanical stress. The two leading causes of death in the developed world, myocardial infarction and stroke, are both a direct consequence of atherosclerosis. Increased arterial stiffness is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events. The World Health Organization predicts that in 2010, cardiovascular disease will also be the leading killer in the developing world and represents a major global health problem.

Researchers believe that there may be several reasons for the connection between core trunk muscle flexibility and the health of arteries, but regardless concluded that regular stretching and exercise can have a positive long-term effect on arteries and maintaining a healthy blood pressure.

The Heart-Oral Health Connection

In addition to regular exercise and stretching, many studies have found a connection between the health of the mouth and heart health. Researchers believe that the key to the heart/mouth relationship lies in the gums.

According to a recent study published in the  Journal of Periodontology, people with periodontal disease are at a higher risk for developing cardiovascular disease than those with healthy gums.

The study found that study participants with gum disease had higher levels of harmful bacteria in the bloodstream – up to four times more than study participants with healthy gums.

Affordable Dental Care

Website Shows Facilities That Provide Low-Cost Dental Care

With the economy in a serious slump, many families have found themselves cutting back on spending the past couple of years. Car and home sales have slumped, holiday sales have led stores to cut back on inventory and staff and still many continue to look for ways to cut spending.

Families have cut back on all the extras – gifts, travel, vacations, dining out and then some.

No Expense Spared

One expense that families absolutely should not skimp on, however, is regularly scheduled dental care. In fact, keeping teeth clean and maintained is actually more cost effective than skipping a regular cleaning and potentially risking having a serious problem, like a cavity or early stages of periodontal disease (or gingivitis) going undetected while treatment is easier and more cost effective.

And the reasons for keeping those twice-per-year appointments with the dentist don’t end there. With the many diseases that are now being connected to good oral health, including heart disease, kidney failure, diabetes and more, the importance of regular dental maintenance is becoming even more clear.

Making Dentistry More Affordable

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has created a database to help consumers find dental clinics whose fees are based on a sliding-scale structure. To find a dentist near you whose charges are based on how much money you make, visit http://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/.

A Little Extra Support

Adding an oral care probiotic like EvoraPlus to your regular brushing and flossing schedule can go a long way toward supporting your tooth and gum health. By creating a basecamp of beneficial bacteria on your teeth and below your gum line, oral care probiotics crowd out harmful bacteria normally found throughout the mouth. EvoraPlus offers the added benefits of freshening breath and gradually, safely and 100% naturally whitening teeth.

Paying a little extra attention to the health of your teeth and gums can actually save you money in the long run.

What Happens When Gum Infection Sets In?

Picturing Periodontal Disease

There is much to be said about periodontal disease. This disease, which affects millions of adults, not only threatens the health of the mouth, but also increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and even premature birth.

Watch this video to learn what it means to have periodontal disease, and how a simple gum infection can progress to the point that teeth are lost and the body’s overall health can be compromised.

There is much to be said about periodontal disease. This disease, which affects millions of adults, not only threatens the health of the mouth, but also increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and even premature birth.

Watch this video to learn what it means to have periodontal disease, and how a simple gum infection can progress to the point that teeth are lost and the body’s overall health can be compromised.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xO_sIPTgYf0

An Interview with Dr. Jeffrey Hillman of Oragenics

By Deacon Keith Fournier
5/14/2010
Catholic Online

In 2008, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the faith in the Catholic Church issued their instruction on the “Dignity of the Human Person.” It began with these words, “The dignity of a person must be recognized in every human being from conception to natural death. This fundamental principle expresses a great ‘yes’ to human life and must be at the center of ethical reflection on biomedical research, which has an ever greater importance in today’s world.”

The instruction offers “a word of support and encouragement for the perspective on culture which considers science an invaluable service to the integral good of the life and dignity of every human being. The Church therefore views scientific research with hope and desires that many Christians will dedicate themselves to the progress of biomedicine and will bear witness to their faith in this field. She hopes moreover that the results of such research may also be made available in areas of the world that are poor and afflicted by disease, so that those who are most in need will receive humanitarian assistance.”

As someone who believes deeply that the Catholic Church gives a great “Yes to Life” I am “on the lookout” for men, women and organizations who view science this way. One of the often repeated fallacies one reads in the media is that the Catholic Church opposes Stem Cell research. The truth is the Church opposes deadly stem cell research such as research on human embryos which always results in taking the life of the embryonic human person. It is immoral to take innocent human life even if one can then use parts of the human person who has been killed to develop a potential cure for another.

The Church wholeheartedly supports research on Adult Stem Cells and cells derived from fetal cord blood. Neither type of stem cell research results in the taking of innocent human lives. They also show tremendous promise! As an example of the encouragement of life affirming stem cell research, a spokesman for the Vatican recently made known their strong support for the research being conducted at the University Of Maryland School Of Medicine using adult stem cells.

As a father of five grown children and grandfather to six, I am well aware of the many needs involved in raising healthy children.  That includes their moral, emotional, spiritual and physical health. Of course, their physical health includes their oral hygiene. Research shows the connection between overall health and good oral hygiene.  As a 55 year old man who lost my father to heart disease, I am sensitized to that subject. I was surprised years ago to find the connection between oral and heart disease.

Dental disease is a quiet, yet growing, national epidemic.  New studies, including recently-published reports from the Mayo Clinic, confirm that periodontal disease and poor oral health are linked to heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, and other illnesses.  American Dental Association studies show that three out of four of Americans are affected by periodontal disease at some point in their lives. My friend, Catholic Online’s own Dr. Denton, has taught me much about an integrative approach to health which respects the unity of the human person, body, soul and spirit. He has helped me understand the connection between overall health and what he calls “beautiful living.”

I recently became interested in the science of probiotics which respects the amazing curative qualities of our own body. There are both good and bad bacteria in our systems all the time. The good bacteria are the most effective way to minimize the damaging effects of the bad bacteria. We have seen the application of probiotics in the growing number of products, including yogurt, which promote overall digestive health.

Recently I read of an extraordinary application of probiotics in oral health. It was developed by Dr. Jeffrey Hillman, D.M.D., Ph.D. It is the result of more than 25 years of research which began at the Harvard-affiliated Forsyth Institute in Boston and continued at the University of Florida. The technology has only recently become available for the general public. It provides what is called Replacement Therapy for preventing dental caries or cavities.

I sought an interview with Dr. Hillman through a mutual friend. He gladly assented. I found this him to be humble, self effacing, approachable and genuinely committed to good science at the service of the human person and the common good. His academic and professional credentials are extraordinary. However, what really impressed me was his dedication to his work. He told me “People tend to take a simple approach to oral care in our culture. We think in terms of killing all of the bacteria that are present in the mouth. But it’s just not that simple; the human mouth contains many … types of bacteria, including some that are helpful to us.”

It made a lot of sense to me. As the interview progressed I saw the myriad of applications of the Doctors discovery. He holds over a dozen patents and has spent his career trying to alleviate suffering. He told me “tooth decay is the most common infectious disease in the world.” I had never really considered that fact. Now, every morning as I brush my teeth I think of it.

I was intrigued when the good Doctor told me he was inspired by Louis Pasteur. Like Pasteur, Dr. Hillman is serious about the potential of science to lessen human suffering. The faith of Pasteur drove his scientific genius toward the good. Above his tomb in the Pasteur Institute are engraved these words “Happy the man who bears within him a divinity, an ideal of beauty and obeys it; an ideal of art, and ideal of science, an ideal of country, and ideal of the virtues of the Gospel.” It is reported that Pasteur died with a rosary in his hand after listening to the life of St. Vincent de Paul.
Dr. Hillman was impressed with the scientists’ genuine humanism and Pasteur’s discovery that there are good bacteria which might one day be used to fight bad bacteria. Pasteur’s scientific discoveries have led to many scientific advances.  Dr. Hillman told me that his idea of expanding probiotic science, the use of good bacteria to combat the bad, in the arena of oral health care was “like a light bulb going off in my head.” He has dedicated over thirty years to this project.

His father told him “If we can succeed in preventing tooth decay we can apply it to other bacteria,” and he set about to do just that. In our extensive interview he explained it to me, a non-scientist, in this very understandable way, “The human body is extraordinarily complex. There are 1,000 or more different types of bacteria. They don’t want to hurt us. We feed them, we clothe them, and we take them to the movies. There are relatively few bacteria which can hurt us. We are simply helping the body by improving on the marvelous design, to prevent them from doing so.”

Doctor Hillman has patented his discoveries and now makes it all available in a line of oral health care products for adults and children.  I also heard of the unique business relationship which has been entered into to distribute the products. The Florida-based biotechnology company Oragenics, Inc., (OTCBB:ORNI) and RICCI PHARMA, a recognized health products company with offices in Rome and Slovakia, have entered into a distribution agreement that the parties anticipate will provide Oragenics’ proprietary oral care probiotic products, EvoraPlus® and EvoraKids^TM, to RICCI PHARMA.

RICCI PHARMA will then  have exclusive distribution rights through Duc in Altum, a foundation whose humanitarian projects are inspired by the social teachings of the late Pope John Paul II. Duc in Altum’s honorary chairman is the Polish Pope’s former private secretary for over 30 years, Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, currently Archbishop of Krakow. The foundation, whose projects are known by the Holy See and encouraged by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, is expected to further promote Oragenics’ products with the Church’s capillary network of health services.

When the interview ended I was happy to have discovered one more dedicated medical professional promoting science at the service of the human person and the common good.

Be Still My Beating Heart!

The Heart-Health Oral-Health Connection

Has your dentist asked about your heart health lately? I hope so, because your twice annual visits to the dentist may offer some important insight to the health of your heart.

Why Should My Dentist Care About Heart Health?

Many recent studies have noted a serious connection between the health of your teeth and gums to the health of your heart. These studies have found that people who have periodontal (gum) disease are twice as likely to have heart disease as those whose gums are healthy.

Other studies have found that common problems in the mouth, including gum disease, cavities and missing teeth, were as reliable for predicting heart disease as testing cholesterol levels .

What’s the Common Denominator Between Oral Health and Heart Health

It seems that the bacteria responsible for periodontal disease also plays a part in heart disease, which means halting the overgrowth of harmful bacteria in the mouth can curb the risk of poor heart health.

How Do I Halt the Overgrowth of Bacteria in My Mouth?

Well, bacteria are going to grow in your mouth because bacteria love the conditions of the mouth – it’s warm, dark and wet! In fact, the average human mouth is home to up to 750 different species of bacteria. Most of those bacteria are completely harmless. A few are known to cause diseases in the mouth, like cavities and periodontal disease. A few more are known for the benefits they offer to teeth and gums – most notably, for keeping the harmful bacteria in check.

If Halting the Bacterial Growth Isn’t the Answer, What Is?

First and foremost, brushing twice daily and flossing once a day will help minimize the overgrowth of the harmful bacteria by removing their food source – sugar and undigested bits of food caught between the teeth.

Secondly, consider using oral probiotic mints to boost the beneficial bacteria that naturally thrive in your mouth. By competing with harmful bacteria for both space and nutrients, these beneficial bacteria help crowd out the bacteria from  tooth surfaces, in tooth crevices and beneath the gum line.

Probiotic mints are also helpful in reducing bad breath while naturally and gently whitening teeth. Who knew keeping your mouth healthy was as simple as popping a tasty oral probiotic mint after brushing?

Oral Health Care Meets Cardiac Heart Health

Both medical and dental researchers have discovered that there is definitely a link between a healthy mouth and a healthy heart.

But if your teeth are artificially whitened – which makes them appear to be healthy, how can you tell if your teeth and mouth truly are healthy and not affecting your heart health?

That’s why the Tooth Fairy recommends visiting the dentist twice annually. Only a dental professional can tell at a glance if you are at risk for gingivitis and periodontal disease.

What Does Brushing My Teeth Have to do with Heart Health?

Since the root cause of periodontal disease is bacteria the risk of periodontal disease is very real. These bacteria can get lodged between your teeth and into your gums. From there, the bacteria are on the fast track to your bloodstream and your heart.

I cannot stress enough to you that this is where seeing your dental professional is essential. Even the most dedicated tooth brushers and flossers can be at risk for periodontal disease and subsequent heart health complications simply because of the type of bacteria that hang out in their mouths.

Yes, There is a Simple Way to Keep Harmful Bacteria in Check

On easy step that will help reduce the number of harmful bacteria in your mouth is the use of a simple probiotic mint . By competing with harmful bacteria for both space and nutrients, these probiotics (beneficial bacteria) help crowd out the bacteria that threaten heart health on tooth surfaces, in tooth crevices and beneath the gum line.

By setting up a base camp of healthy bacteria in the mouth, the bacteria associated with heart health won’t be able to maintain a foothold in the mouth or find it an easy, open access point to the blood stream.

As an added benefit, this probiotic mint also helps eliminate bad breath and gently and naturally whitens teeth.