Recent Longevity News for the seven days ending 3/17/10.  You should consult your doctor if you are taking any medications.

Coffee’s anti-diabetes benefit strengthen - Nutra USA, 3/16/10 - "coffee is one of the richest sources of polyphenols in the Western diet, with one cup of the stuff providing 350 milligrams of phenolics. Of these, the most abundant compounds coffee are chlorogenic acids, making up to 12 per cent of the green coffee bean. The most abundant of these compounds is caffeic acid ... adiponectin levels increased by 6 per cent. Adiponectin is a protein hormone linked to various metabolic processes, and levels are inversely related to body fat levels ... the impact of inflammation on the progression of diabetes may support an anti-diabetic role for the beverage" - [Abstract]

Turmeric Cream Decreases Signs of Aging - Medscape, 3/16/10 - "A new moisturizing cream containing turmeric extract, an ingredient found in curry, significantly improves the appearance of facial spots, fine lines, and wrinkles, according to results from 2 split-face studies (1 with an all-white and 1 with an all-Asian patient population) presented here at the American Academy of Dermatology 68th Annual Meeting" - See curcumin products at Amazon.com.

Studies provide more support for health benefits of coffee - Science Daily, 3/15/10 - "Although it is sometimes referred to as "the devil's brew," coffee contains several nutrients (eg, calcium) as well as hundreds of potentially biologically active compounds (eg, polyphenols) that may promote health"

Treating vitamin D deficiency significantly reduces heart disease risk, studies find - Science Daily, 3/15/10 - "Preventing and treating heart disease in some patients could be as simple as supplementing their diet with extra vitamin D ... For the first study ... 47 percent of the patients who increased their levels of vitamin D between the two visits showed a reduced risk for cardiovascular disease ... In the second study ... The patients in each category who increased their vitamin D levels to 43 nanograms per milliliter of blood or higher had lower rates of death, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, myocardial infarction, heart failure, high blood pressure, depression, and kidney failure. Currently, a level of 30 nanograms per milliliter is considered "normal" ... Increasing vitamin D intake by 1000 to 5000 international units (IU) a day may be appropriate" - See vitamin D at Amazon.com.

Magnesium may decrease colon cancer risk: Study - Nutra USA, 3/15/10 - "Intakes of the mineral of at least 327 milligrams per day were found to reduce the risk of colon cancer by 52 per cent, compared to intakes less than 238 milligrams per day, while no benefits were observed in women" - [Abstract] - See magnesium supplements at Amazon.com.

High-intensity interval training is time-efficient and effective, study suggests - Science Daily, 3/12/10 - "Doing 10 one-minute sprints on a standard stationary bike with about one minute of rest in between, three times a week, works as well in improving muscle as many hours of conventional long-term biking less strenuously ... less extreme HIT method may work well for people (the older, less fit, and slightly overweight among us) whose doctors might have worries about them exercising "all-out.""

Abstracts from this week's Doctor's Guide Nutrition/Dietetics plus abstracts from my RSS feeds (Click here for the journals, the PubMed ones at the top):

High Dietary Intake of Magnesium May Decrease Risk of Colorectal Cancer in Japanese Men - J Nutr. 2010 Feb 17 - "When adjusted for potential confounders, the hazard ratio and 95% CI in the highest quintile of magnesium intake compared with the lowest quintile in men were 0.65 (95% CI, 0.40-1.03) for CRC (P-trend = 0.04), 0.48 (95% CI, 0.26-0.89) for colon cancer (P-trend = 0.01), and 0.97 (95% CI, 0.47-2.02) for rectal cancer (P-trend = 0.93)" - See magnesium supplements at Amazon.com.

Effect of St John's wort on severity, frequency, and duration of hot flashes in premenopausal, perimenopausal and postmenopausal women: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study - Menopause. 2010 Mar;17(2):326-31 - "The fall-off in frequency of hot flashes on the 4th and 8th weeks of intervention was more evident in women receiving St John's wort, and the differences between groups were statistically significant (P = 0.005 and P < 0.001, respectively). Furthermore, comparing both study groups, we showed that the decrease in the severity of flashes in women who received St John's wort was more evident on the 4th and 8th weeks (P = 0.004 and P < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS:: St John's wort can be used as an effective treatment for the vasomotor symptoms of perimenopausal or postmenopausal women" - See St. John's wort at Amazon.com.

Effect of Niacin Therapy on Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease - J Cardiovasc Pharmacol Ther. 2010 Mar 5 - "Compared to placebo group, niacin therapy significantly reduced coronary artery revascularization (RR [relative risk]: 0.307 with 95% CI: 0.150-0.628; P = .001), nonfatal myocardial infarction ([MI]; RR: 0.719; 95% CI: 0.603-0.856; P = .000), stroke, and TIA ([transient ischemic attack] RR: 0.759; 95%CI: 0.613-0.940; P = .012), as well as a possible but nonsignificant decrease in cardiac mortality (RR: 0.883: 95% CI: 0.773-1.008; p= 0.066). CONCLUSIONS: In a meta-analysis of seven trials of secondary prevention, niacin was associated with a significant reduction in cardiovascular events and possible small but non-significant decreases in coronary and cardiovascular mortality" - See niacin at Amazon.com.

Caffeine Exposure and the Risk of Parkinson's Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies - J Alzheimers Dis. 2010 Feb 24 - "When considering only the cohort studies, the RR was 0.80 (95%CI: 0.71-90; I;{2}=8.1%). The negative association was weaker when only women were considered (RR=0.86, 95%CI: 0.73-1.02; I;{2}=12.9%). A linear relation was observed between levels of exposure to caffeine and the RR estimates: RR of 0.76 (95%CI: 0.72-0.80; I;{2}= 35.1%) per 300 mg increase in caffeine intake. This study confirm an inverse association between caffeine intake and the risk of PD, which can hardly by explained by bias or uncontrolled confounding"

Exercise Plays a Preventive Role Against Alzheimer's Disease - J Alzheimers Dis. 2010 Feb 24 - "Regular physical activity increases the endurance of cells and tissues to oxidative stress, vascularization, energy metabolism, and neurotrophin synthesis, all important in neurogenesis, memory improvement, and brain plasticity. Although extensive studies are required to understand the mechanism, it is clear that physical exercise is beneficial in the prevention of AD and other age-associated neurodegenerative disorders"

Caffeine Intake is Associated with a Lower Risk of Cognitive Decline: A Cohort Study from Portugal - J Alzheimers Dis. 2010 Feb 24 - "Caffeine intake (> 62 mg/day [3rd third] vs. < 22 mg/day [1st third]) was associated with a lower risk of cognitive decline in women (RR=0.49, 95%CI 0.24-0.97), but not significantly in men (RR=0.65, 95%CI 0.27-1.54)" - Note:  I don't know how they determine that 0.65 isn't significant.

Caffeine as a Protective Factor in Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease - J Alzheimers Dis. 2010 Feb 24 - "In the CAIDE study, coffee drinking of 3-5 cups per day at midlife was associated with a decreased risk of dementia/AD by about 65% at late-life. In conclusion, coffee drinking may be associated with a decreased risk of dementia/AD. This may be mediated by caffeine and/or other mechanisms like antioxidant capacity and increased insulin sensitivity. This finding might open possibilities for prevention or postponing the onset of dementia/AD"

Health Focus (Periodontal Disease):

Alternative News:

• Gingivitis - Life Extension Foundation
• Periodontal Disease - The Natural Pharmacist
• Omega-3 may combat mouth bacteria, boost oral health - Nutra USA, 2/10/10 - "The study, sponsored by the US National Institutes of Health, found that all six compounds showed cent 50 per cent inhibitory activity for concentrations ranging from 1 to 10 micrograms per millilitre" - See Mega Twin EPA at Amazon.com and Jarrow Max DHA at Amazon.com.
• Omega-3 may reduce risk of dental disease: Study - Nutra USA, 1/28/10 - "The average number of dental disease events was 1.5 times higher in people with low DHA levels, compared to those with the highest average levels of DHA" - [Abstract] - See Jarrow Max DHA at Amazon.com.
• Longitudinal relationship between dietary omega-3 fatty acids and periodontal disease - Nutrition. 2010 Jan 22 - "Low DHA intake was significantly associated with more periodontal disease events. The mean number of periodontal disease events for participants who consumed the lowest tertile of DHA was approximately 1.5 times larger (lowest tertile, incidence rate ratio 1.49, 95% confidence interval 1.01-2.21) than the reference group (highest tertile of DHA consumption), after simultaneously adjusting for possible confounders" - See Jarrow Max DHA at Amazon.com.
• Probiotics may protect against gum disease: Yakult study - Nutra USA, 9/30/09 - "One group was required to drink 65 ml of Yakult daily, giving a daily probiotic dose of 100 billion bacteria per 100 ml. The other group was given no product to consume at all ... analysis of the fluid between the gum and the tooth (gingival crevicular fluid) showed that the probiotic was associated with reductions were in elastase activity, and enzyme linked to inflammation, and matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3), an enzyme that is responsible for the degradation of extracellular matrix components and known to have increased activity during inflammation" - [Abstract] - See probiotics at Amazon.com.
• The influence of a probiotic milk drink on the development of gingivitis: a pilot study - J Clin Periodontol. 2009 Oct;36(10):850-6 - "Interproximal PI and papillary bleeding were not different between the groups. In the test group, elastase activity and MMP-3 amount were significantly lower after the intake of the probiotic milk drink (p<0.001 and 0.016). There was a significant increase of MPO activity in the control group; both groups were different at the end of the study (p=0.014). CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest a beneficial effect of the probiotic milk drink on gingival inflammation" - See probiotics at Amazon.com.
• Patients With Moderate To Severe Periodontitis Need Evaluation For Heart Disease Risk - Science Daily, 6/30/09 - "Periodontitis is common, with mild to moderate forms affecting 30 to 50% of adults and the severe generalized form affecting 5 to 15% of all adults in the USA. In addition, there is now strong evidence that people with periodontitis are at increased risk of atherosclerotic CVD — the accumulation of lipid products within the arterial vascular wall"
• Resolvins Have Potential To Resolve Periodontal Inflammation And Restore Tissue Health - Science Daily, 4/4/09 - "These results support the hypothesis that both EPA- and DHA-derived Resolvins have therapeutic potential in resolving periodontal inflammation and restoring the tissues' health" - See Mega Twin EPA at Amazon.com and Jarrow Max DHA at Amazon.com.
• Drink Green Tea For Healthy Teeth And Gums - Science Daily, 3/5/09 - "those who regularly drank green tea had superior periodontal health than subjects that consumed less green tea ... Green tea's ability to help reduce symptoms of periodontal disease may be due to the presence of the antioxidant catechin. Previous research has demonstrated antioxidants' ability to reduce inflammation in the body, and the indicators of periodontal disease measured in this study, PD, CAL and BOP, suggest the existence of an inflammatory response to periodontal bacteria in the mouth" - See green tea extract at Amazon.com.
• UV Light-enhanced Tooth Bleaching Dangerous To Eyes and Skin, Study Shows - Science Daily, 1/29/09 - "The light treatment gives absolutely no benefit over bleaching without UV, and damages skin and eyes up to four times as much as sunbathing"
• Treating Gum Disease Linked To Lower Medical Costs For Patients With Diabetes - Science Daily, 12/23/08 - "treating gum disease in patients who have diabetes with procedures such as cleanings and periodontal scaling is linked to 10 to 12 percent lower medical costs per month"
• Grape seed extract may boost oral health: Study - Nutra USA, 11/26/08 - "The extracts showed a good antibacterial activity, as evidence by the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of the test compound against the two strains" - See grape seed extract at Amazon.com.
• Bleeding Gums Linked To Heart Disease - Science Daily, 9/10/08 - "People with poor dental hygiene and those who don't brush their teeth regularly end up with bleeding gums, which provide an entry to the bloodstream for up to 700 different types of bacteria found in our mouths. This increases the risk of having a heart attack"
• My dentist tells me that I have periodontal problems and he doesn't think I will be able to keep my teeth much longer. Is there anything that I can do? - Dr. Murray
• Mouthful of Mercury? - Dr. Weil, 8/25/08
• Want Healthy Gums? Hit The Dairy Aisle - Science Daily, 2/6/08 - "subjects that consumed 55 or more grams of products containing lactic acid each day had a significantly lower prevalence of deep PD and severe CAL, therefore demonstrating a lower instance of periodontal disease"
• Winemaking Waste Proves Effective Against Disease-causing Bacteria In Early Studies - Science Daily, 1/2/08 - "specific polyphenols, present in large amounts in fermented seeds and skins cast away after grapes are pressed, interfere with the ability of bacteria to contribute to tooth decay. Beyond cavities, the action of the wine grape-based chemicals may also hold clues for new ways to lessen the ability of bacteria to cause life-threatening, systemic infections" - See grape seed extract at Amazon.com.
• Research shows benefits of cranberries -MSNBC, 11/20/06 - "A compound Howell discovered in cranberries, proanthocyanidine, prevents plaque formation on teeth" - See cranberry supplements at Amazon.com.
• Stress May Wreak Havoc on Your Mouth - WebMD, 8/13/07
• Diseased gums raise risk of pancreatic cancer - MSNBC, 11/13/06 - "that men with gum disease and recent tooth loss had a 2.7-fold increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer compared with those who reported neither gum disease nor tooth loss"
• New Way to Stamp Out Tooth Decay - WebMD, 10/24/06
• Red Wine May Fight Gum Disease - WebMD, 3/10/03
• Case Researchers Find Exercise, Eating Right and Maintaining Weight Benefit Oral Health - Doctor's Guide, 8/22/05
• Healthy Gums May Help Fight Alzheimer's - WebMD, 6/20/05 - "Brushing your teeth may be one of many ways to help keep your mind healthy and lower the risk of Alzheimer's disease"
• Raisins May Help Fight Cavities - WebMD, 6/8/05
• Do Clean Teeth Promote Heart Health? - Dr. Weil, 5/3/05
• Electric Toothbrushes May Be Better At Fighting Plaque, Gum Disease - Science Daily, 4/20/05 - "Over the short term of one to three months, the rotating brushes reduced plaque by 11 percent over manual toothbrushes and reduced the signs of gingivitis, or gum inflammation, by 6 percent over the regular brushes ... The powered brushes reduced gingivitis by 17 percent over the manual brushes after more than three months’ use" - See Braun Oral-B products at drugstore.com.
• Pearly Teeth Could Help Save Your Heart - WebMD, 3/11/05 - "It's possible that in someone with gum disease the mouth's pesky bacteria travel through the bloodstream and prompt inflammation that clogs arteries"
• Yogurt: An Antidote to Bad Breath? - WebMD, 3/10/05 - "the participants ate about 3 ounces of yogurt twice daily for six weeks .... levels of plaque and the gum disease gingivitis were also significantly lower among yogurt eaters"
• Study Finds Direct Association Between Cardiovascular Disease and Periodontal Bacteria - Doctor's Guide, 2/8/05
• Bleeding Gums? - Dr. Weil, 9/14/04
• Does Poor Dental Health Determine Overall Health? - Dr. Weil, 5/28/04
• Is It Safe to Whiten Your Smile? - Dr. Weil, 4/6/04
• White Tea for Healthy Teeth? - Dr. Weil, 12/11/03
• Brushing Off Gingivitis? - Dr. Weil, 9/26/03
• Brushing Technique Important in Removing Plaque - New Hope Natural Media, 8/21/03
• Mercury in Your Mouth? - Dr. Weil, 7/10/03
• Too Much Pressure or Time Brushing Your Teeth Can Hurt - WebMD, 6/20/03
• Guarding Your Gums? - Dr. Weil, 6/16/03 - "Periodontal disease is a chronic gum infection caused by bacteria in plaque ... Coenzyme Q10: Take 120 mg per day of a soft-gel form with meals ... young women who get less than 800 mg of calcium a day have double the risk of periodontal disease" - See iHerb or Vitacost coenzyme Q10 products.
• Microwave Zaps Denture Germs - WebMD, 6/11/03
• Borage Oil Reduces Periodontal Inflammation - New Hope Natural Media, 5/29/03
• Green Tea Boosts Antimicrobial Properties Of Toothpaste - Intelihealth, 5/21/03 - "green tea extracts (GTE) and polyphenol (PP) have an adverse effect on bacteria that cause strep throat, dental caries, and other infections"
• What supplements for periodontal disease? - Dr. Janson's Newsletter, 12/02
• Oral Health - Nutrition Science News, 12/99
• Calcium, Vitamin D Help You Hold on to Those Pearly Whites - WebMD, 10/29/01 - "examined 145 healthy men and women aged 65 and older who had taken either calcium plus vitamin D supplements or placebo ... The calcium was given at a dose of 500 mg and vitamin D at 700 IU daily ... 27% of the placebo group, but only 13% of the supplement group, lost one or more teeth during the three-year study ... Once the study was finished, the researchers continued to count teeth for a couple of more years. Again, they found that those taking in at least 1,000 mg of calcium each day were able to hold on to more teeth"
• Keep That Smile! Calcium and Vitamin D Prevent Tooth Loss - WebMD, 9/27/00
• Low Dietary Calcium, Low Vitamin C Linked To Increased Risk Of Gum Disease - Doctor's Guide, 6/29/98
• Link Between Heart Attack Risk and Gum Disease May Be Folic Acid - Doctor's Guide, 6/10/97

Other News:

• Are Mercury Dental Fillings Safe? - U.S. News, 1/20/10
• Oral health and risk for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: the Carolina Head and Neck Cancer Study - Cancer Causes Control. 2010 Jan 5 - "squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck (SCCHN) ... Routine dental visits were associated with 30% risk reduction (OR: 0.68, 95% CI: 0.53, 0.87). CONCLUSIONS: These data provide support for a possible modest association of periodontal disease, as measured by self-reported tooth loss indicators, but not tooth loss per se, with SCCHN risk" - Interesting because I survived neck cancer with about a 1 in 10 chance of survival (it will be 5 years next month, click here).  I've been getting my teeth cleaned every three months for about twelve years.
• More than 90 percent of people with gum disease are at risk for diabetes, study finds - Science Daily, 12/15/09 - "An overwhelming majority of people who have periodontal (gum) disease are also at high risk for diabetes and should be screened for diabetes ... 93 percent of subjects who had periodontal disease, compared to 63 percent of those without the disease, were considered to be at high risk for diabetes and should be screened for diabetes"
• Older dental fillings contain form of mercury unlikely to be toxic, study finds - Science Daily, 12/9/09
• Look Ma, No Mercury In Fillings! - Science Daily, 11/26/09
• Gum Disease Raises Arthritis Risk - WebMD, 10/20/09
• Chronic periodontitis and the incidence of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma - Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2009 Sep;18(9):2406-12 - "Patients with periodontitis were more likely to have poorly differentiated oral cavity SCC than those without periodontitis (32.8% versus 11.5%"
• Prevent Periodontitis To Reduce The Risk Of Head And Neck Cancer - Science Daily, 9/8/09 - "Chronic periodontitis, a form of gum disease, is an independent risk factor for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma"
• Open Wide And Say 'Zap': New Way To Clinically Assess Condition Of Tooth Enamel Using Lasers - Science Daily, 8/22/09
• Flying By The Skin Of Our Teeth - Science Daily,8/19/09
• FDA: Mercury Fillings Not Harmful - WebMD, 7/28/09
• Tooth Gel: Healing Power Of Aloe Vera Proves Beneficial For Teeth And Gums, Too - Science Daily, 7/17/09
• Link Between Oral Infections And Cardiovascular Disease Morbidity Explained - Science Daily, 7/9/09 - "A recent study that will be cited during the presentation explored the existence of bacteria known to cause periodontitis and the growth of blood vessel walls, which is a symptom of CVD. After examining the subjects used, the investigators found a positive connection between the growth of blood vessel walls and the existence of bacteria found in dental plaque, causing periodontitis"
• New Treatment For Receding Gums: No Pain, Lots Of Gain - Science Daily, 7/1/09
• Orange Juice Worse For Teeth Than Whitening Agents - Science Daily, 6/30/09 - "the effects of 6 percent hydrogen peroxide, the common ingredient in professional and over-the-counter whitening products, are insignificant compared to acidic fruit juices. Orange juice markedly decreased hardness and increased roughness of tooth enamel"
• Treating Gum Disease May Help Rheumatoid Arthritis - WebMD, 6/12/09 - "It was exciting to find that if we eliminated the infection and inflammation in the gums, then patients with a severe kind of active rheumatoid arthritis reported improvement on the signs and symptoms of that disease"
• Placement Of Dental Implants Results In Minimal Bone Loss - Science Daily, 5/12/09
• New Evidence Of Periodontal Disease Leading To Gestational Diabetes - Science Daily, 4/4/09 - "Gestational diabetes is characterized by an inability to transport glucose -- the main source of fuel for the body -- to the cells during pregnancy. The condition usually disappears when the pregnancy ends, but women who have had gestational diabetes are at a greater risk of developing the most common form of diabetes, known as Type 2 diabetes, later in life ... In addition to its potential role in preterm delivery, evidence that gum disease may also contribute to gestational diabetes suggests that women should see a dentist if they plan to get pregnant, and after becoming pregnant"
• Your Oral Health Is Connected To Your Overall Health - Science Daily, 4/4/09 - "While treatment of mothers with mild periodontal disease usually does not have an effect on infant prematurity, the greatest effect has been reported by scientists to be observed in mothers with generalized severe periodontal disease"
• Obesity Associated With Periodontal Disease - Science Daily, 4/4/09 - "The team observed significant associations between all measures of obesity and periodontal disease when accounting for age, smoking, race, dental profession, physical activity, fruit and vegetable intake, and diabetes status at baseline. Obesity (BMI > 30 kg/m2) at the beginning of follow-up and over follow-up was significantly associated with a 25% and 29% increased risk compared with normal weight (BMI 18.5-24.9 kg/m2), respectively ... These results provide the first evidence following a large group of people over time with clear evidence of obesity occurring prior to periodontal disease, and support an association between obesity and risk of periodontal disease"
• The More Oral Bacteria, The Higher The Risk Of Heart Attack, Study Shows - Science Daily, 4/1/09 - "two oral pathogens in the mouth were associated with an increased risk of having a heart attack, but that the total number of germs, regardless of type, was more important to heart health"
• New Tooth Cavity Protection: Make Surface Too Slippery For Bacteria To Adhere - Science Daily, 12/20/08
• Inflamed Gums Linked To Heart Disease - Science Daily, 12/20/08 - "a protein associated with inflammation (called CRP) is elevated in people who are at risk for heart disease. But where's the inflammation coming from? ... infected gums may be one place ... something as simple as taking good care of your teeth and gums can greatly reduce your risk of developing serious diseases"
• Root Canal or Dental Implant? - WebMD, 11/19/08
• Periodontal Disease May Independently Predict New-Onset Diabetes - Doctor's Guide, 8/7/08 - "Individuals with elevated levels of periodontal disease were nearly twice as likely to become diabetic in that 20-year timeframe"
• Most Effective Dental Braces Are Least Attractive - Science Daily, 7/9/08
• Warning issued for silver dental fillings - USATODAY.com, 6/12/08
• Gum Disease May Make Diabetes Worse - WebMD, 6/6/08 - "The suggestion from the study is that treating gum disease could actually slow down the progression to diabetes in those at high risk of developing the disease"
• Mercury dental fillings may harm some - MSNBC, 6/4/08
• Gum Disease May Raise Cancer Risk - WebMD, 5/27/08 - "Compared to men with healthy gums, men with a history of gum disease were: ... 14% more likely to develop cancer overall ... 49% more likely to develop kidney cancer ... 54% more likely to develop pancreatic cancer ... 30% more likely to develop blood cancers"
• New Drug Reverses Dentists' Anesthesia - WebMD, 5/12/08
• Bonelike Coating For Dental Implants Makes Everyone Smile - Science Daily, 4/4/08
• Periodontal Disease Can Lead To Gestational Diabetes, Study Shows - Science Daily, 3/24/08 - "Inflammation associated with periodontal disease is believed to play a role in the onset of gestational diabetes, perhaps by interfering with the normal functioning of insulin, the hormone that regulates glucose metabolism"
• When And How Often You Consume Acidic Foods Or Beverages Affects Dental Health - Science Daily, 2/5/08
• Periodontal Disease Is Associated With Chronic Kidney Disease - Medscape, 1/30/08 - "subjects with periodontal disease and those who were edentulous were nearly twice as likely to have CKD (adjusted odds ratios, 1.60 and 1.85, respectively)"
• Dental Tooth Fillings Containing Mercury Don't Affect Children's Brain Development, Study Suggests - Science Daily, 1/25/08
• Healthy Smile May Promote A Healthy Heart - Science Daily, 1/8/08 - "individuals with periodontal disease whose biomarkers showed increased bacterial exposure were more likely to develop coronary heart disease or atherogenesis (plaque formation in the arteries)"
• Huge Success With Directly Loaded Implants In The Mouth - Science Daily, 12/16/07
• Treating Your Periodontal Pockets May Benefit Your Pocket Book - Science Daily, 11/28/07 - "prevention of periodontal diseases may lead to savings on not only dental costs, but also medical care costs. Periodontal, or gum diseases have been linked to systemic health conditions including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and respiratory problems ... cumulative health care costs were 21% higher for those patients with severe periodontal disease than those with no periodontal disease"
• Smoking Can Harm The Long-term Effects Of Some Oral Plastic Surgery Procedures - Science Daily, 9/18/07
• Chronic Gum Disease Associated With Tongue Cancer - Science Daily, 5/23/07
• Treat Gum Disease, Help Heart? - WebMD, 2/28/07 - "One group got standard gum disease treatment -- having a dentist scrape and polish their teeth ... The other group got more aggressive treatment, including a shot of anesthesia to let dentists remove plaque below the gum line and extract teeth, if necessary ... two months later, the intensive treatment group had better endothelial function than the standard treatment group. That advantage was still seen at the end of the six-month study"
• Gum Disease Ups Pancreatic Cancer Risk - WebMD, 1/16/07 - "subjects who reported gum disease were 64% more likely to have pancreatic cancer ... Michaud and colleagues suggest that long-standing gum infections trigger a body-wide immune response: inflammation. Inflamed tissues give off chemical signals that promote tumor growth"
• Periodontal Therapy Helps Patients With Type 2 Diabetes - Doctor's Guide, 10/31/06
• Tooth Whiteners Work, at Least Briefly - WebMD, 10/17/06
• New Study Finds a Positive Association Between Periodontal Disease and Coronary Heart Disease - Doctor's Guide, 9/27/06 - "A number of pathways are suspected to be involved," said Geismar. "One way is that periodontal bacteria directly invade the arterial wall and another way is that bacterial products from the periodontal pocket exert a systemic effect on atherosclerosis development based on the immune system."
• Safety of Dental Fillings Questioned - WebMD, 9/7/06
• Study Supports Findings That Periodontal Bacteria May Be Linked to Heart Disease - Doctor's Guide, 7/21/06 - "acute coronary syndrome (ACS) ... Seventy-seven percent of the participants in the ACS group and 42 percent in the control group demonstrated evidence of periodontitis"
• No Harm Found in Amalgam Fillings - WebMD, 4/18/06
• Periodontitis Associated With Pregnancy Complications - Doctor's Guide, 2/6/06
• Treating Gum Disease May Reduce The Risk Of Cardiovascular Disease - Science Daily, 1/6/06 - "inflammation in the mouth has a measurable effect in the bloodstream, and therefore the rest of the body"
• Tooth Loss and Heart Disease Linked, Even Among Nonsmokers - Doctor's Guide, 12/20/05 - "Heart disease was present in 4.7% of those without tooth loss, 5.7% of those with 1 to 5 missing teeth, 7.5% of those with 6 to 31 missing teeth, and 8.5% of those with total tooth loss"
• Common Antibiotic May Affect Tooth Enamel - WebMD, 10/3/05
• Dangers of Teeth Whitening Obsession - ABC News, 7/30/05 - "When people abuse teeth whitening products, the results aren't pretty ... The edges of your teeth will become bluish-translucent in color, and that is irreversible ... Your teeth can become very sensitive. You can harm the gum tissue and burn it away"
• Certain Drinks Can Permanently Damage Teeth - CBS2 Chicago, 6/9/05
• Dental Erosion -- Consume Pickles, Lemons And Soft Drinks In Moderation - Science Daily, 5/29/05
• Wisdom Teeth Removal Often Unnecessary - WebMD, 5/5/05
• New Dental Implants Build Bone, Speed Healing - CBS 2 Chicago, 4/26/05
• Electric Toothbrushes May Be Better At Fighting Plaque, Gum Disease - Science Daily, 4/20/05 - "Over the short term of one to three months, the rotating brushes reduced plaque by 11 percent over manual toothbrushes and reduced the signs of gingivitis, or gum inflammation, by 6 percent over the regular brushes ... The powered brushes reduced gingivitis by 17 percent over the manual brushes after more than three months’ use"
• Live Oral Bacteria Found In Arterial Plaque - Science Daily, 3/31/05 - "Gum disease has been linked to hardening of the arteries ... This report certainly provides a smoking gun that live bacteria have become seeded from the oral cavity to become inhabitants of the vessel wall ... The exciting implications focus on the known ability of these bacteria to destroy connective tissue in the mouth, suggesting that when infecting the vessel wall they may contribute to the instability of the atherosclerotic plaque — leading to acute events such as heart attack or stroke"
• Columbia Study Suggests Brushing Your Teeth May Reduce Risk Of Stroke And Heart Attack - Science Daily, 2/17/05 - "people with gum disease are more likely to suffer from atherosclerosis – a narrowing of blood vessels that can lead to stroke or heart attack ... one possible explanation for the link is that the bacteria that cause the gum disease may migrate throughout the body via the bloodstream and stimulate the immune system, causing inflammation that results in the clogging of arteries"
• Which Drinks Damage Your Teeth the Most? - WebMD, 2/16/05 - "noncola soft drinks, energy/sports drinks, and commercial lemonade "showed the most aggressive dissolution effect on dental enamel,""
• Listerine no replacement for flossing? - MSNBC, 1/7/05
• Little Evidence To Link Mercury Fillings To Human Health Problems - Science Daily, 12/20/04
• Possible Link Between Oral and Overall Health in Diabetics - Doctor's Guide, 12/13/04
• Mercury Fillings: They're Not Risky - WebMD, 12/9/04
• Dental Plaque May Harbor Pathogens for Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia - Medscape, 11/11/04
• Further Evidence Reveals The Association Between Periodontal Disease And Coronary Artery Disease - Science Daily, 10/27/04 - "One reason is that periodontal pathogens could enter the bloodstream, invade the blood vessel walls and ultimately cause atherosclerosis ... Another hypothesis is based on several studies that have shown that periodontal infections can be correlated with increased plasma levels of inflammation such as fibrinogen (this creates blood clots), C-reactive protein, or several cytokines"
• Can Tooth Whiteners Cause Oral Cancer? - WebMD, 8/7/04 - "the active ingredient in these popular whiteners -- available at a dentist's office or in over-the-counter kits -- may be the reason why two patients with no other identifiable risk factors developed advanced tongue cancer while in their 20s ... Free Radical Damage Suspected"
• Repeated Treatment Of Gum Disease Reduces Levels Of Inflammatory Factors Known To Increase Heart Disease Risk - Science Daily, 4/8/04 - "in people who had elevated levels of CRP at baseline, removal of dental plaque bacteria by scaling or scaling combined with topical antibiotics produced a statistically significant reduction, bringing CRP levels close to the low-risk level. Both treatments also significantly reduced levels of fibrinogen in patients with elevated fibrinogen levels"
• Tooth-Whitening Strips and Trays Face Off - WebMD, 3/18/04
• Eating Breakfast May Prevent Cavities - WebMD, 1/16/04
• Angry, Lonely Men Prone to Gum Disease - WebMD, 12/22/03
• Oral Piercing Causes Long-Term Dental Damage - WebMD, 7/21/03
• Painless Root Canal Quicker, Cheaper - WebMD, 7/18/03
• Obesity Leads to Gum Disease - WebMD, 6/2/03
• Dental Erosions Due to Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Often Undiagnosed - Doctor's Guide, 5/22/03
• Secondhand Smoke Leads to More Cavities - WebMD, 3/11/03
• Sink Your Teeth Into Denture Alternative - TheSanDiegoChannel.com, 2/10/03
• Dental Problems From Depression Drugs - WebMD, 2/4/03
• Dental Health Associated With Nutritional Status In Older Adults - Doctor's Guide, 1/20/03 - "individuals with no posterior occluding pairs, one to four pairs or complete dentures had consistently lower scores on the [Healthy Eating Index] HEI than individuals with five to eight posterior occluding pairs of teeth ... Those with impaired dentition also ate fewer servings of fruit and had lower serum values of beta carotene and ascorbic acid ... Dietary intake levels of vitamin A, carotene, folic acid and vitamin C were poorer in individuals with impaired dentition, as were HEI scores for diet variety, cholesterol and sodium"
• Tooth Loss Linked to Stroke Risk - WebMD, 12/12/02 - "tooth loss may increase the risk of stroke by as much as 74% compared with those who have a healthy mouthful of teeth ... The findings add more evidence to support the growing link between gum (periodontal) disease, which is caused by bacterial infections, and the risk of stroke and heart disease" - Possible solution?:
  • Low-dose Periostat (Doxycycline) Shows Benefits in Patients with Heart Failure - Doctor's Guide, 11/20/02 - "At six-month follow-up, sub-antimicrobial dose doxycyline significantly reduced CRP levels by 45.8 percent compared to baseline values (p<0.05). The drug was also associated with a 33.5 percent reduction in interleukin-6 and a 50 percent reduction in metalloproteinase ... The findings are exciting, since research is now showing that CRP is both a key marker of inflammation leading to future acute coronary events, but also that CRP itself may contribute to the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis"
• Periodontitis in Estrogen-Deficient Women - Archives of Internal Medicine, 12/9/02 - "The influence of estrogen deficiency directly on alveolar bone seems likely to only partially explain the association between the lack of estrogen and tooth loss. Many studies suggest a beneficial influence of estrogen directly on gingival and periodontal tissues even though this concept is not mentioned in recent reviews of risk factors for periodontal disease ... We continue to see nonsmoking women without diabetes mellitus in their 50s and 60s whose periodontal disease is strikingly improved within a few months following the onset of systemic estrogen therapy without other interventions"
• Periodontal Diseases Increase C-Reactive Protein In Haemodialysis Patients - Doctor's Guide, 11/7/02
• Risk of Preterm Low Birth Weight in Women With Periodontal Disease Reduced By Periodontal Therapy - Doctor's Guide, 9/2/02
• Delayed Maxillary Implants Best for Buccal Dehiscence Defects - Doctor's Guide, 8/20/02
• Subantimicrobial Dose Doxycycline Reduces Deep Pockets In Severe Periodontitis - Doctor's Guide, 8/8/02
• Amniotic Fluid Infection May Be Linked To Dental Plaque - Doctor's Guide, 6/5/02
• Periapical Status Of Tooth And Survival Of Tooth After Root Filling - Doctor's Guide, 6/4/02
• Periodontitis Link to Autoreactive B Cells - Doctor's Guide, 5/17/02
• Study of Heart Transplant Patients Further Demonstrates Periodontitis May Be A Risk Factor For Heart Disease - Doctor's Guide, 5/8/02 - "This study adds one more piece of significant evidence that, along with high cholesterol and blood pressure, periodontal disease should be seen as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease ... It is now common practice for dentists to prescribe antibiotics prior to oral surgery or even advanced cleaning techniques for patients with particular heart health profiles. Among the newer methods for administering antibiotics is the product Arestin(TM), which uses patented microsphere technology to deliver the antibiotic minocycline beneath the gum, directly into the infected periodontal pocket, after deep cleaning of the teeth and gums with a common method of treatment known as scaling and root planing" - see Arestin.com
• Potentially Dangerous Oral Spots and Sores Need More Attention - Doctor's Guide, 3/28/02
• Good Denture Design Assists Tooth Health - Doctor's Guide, 3/14/02
• Strong Link Found Between Mother's Gum Disease and Premature Birth, Low Birth Weight - Doctor's Guide, 3/7/02
• Vioxx (Rofecoxib) Relieves Acute Pain from Dental Surgery Better than Oxycodone/Acetaminophen Combination - Doctor's Guide, 3/4/02
• Old Toothbrushes Not Up To Job - Intelihealth, 2/12/02
• One-Third Skip Annual Dental Visit - Intelihealth, 1/29/02
• Goodbye, Dentures: Implants Are Gaining Favor - Intelihealth, 9/11/01
• New Material Enhances Fillings, Rebuilds Teeth - WebMD, 8/27/01
• Too Much Soda Taking Its Toll on Kids' Teeth - WebMD, 7/12/01
• Incidence of Periodontal Disease High In People With Rheumatoid Arthritis - Doctor's Guide, 6/21/01
• Is Mercury in Fillings Really a Problem?, Dentists Split on Controversial Issue - WebMD, 5/29/01
• Passive Smoke Linked to Cavities in Children, Tooth Decay Nearly Doubles in Smoking Homes - WebMD, 5/1/01 - "the rate of cavities in children was nearly double in smoking households, even after considering a number of variables including sex, race, dental visits, family income, and nutrition status"
• Brush Your Teeth -- It Prevents More Than Cavities, Oral Health Strongly Impacts Overall Health - WebMD, 4/19/01 - "having bad teeth and gums contributes to high cholesterol, which is linked to a host of other illnesses, including heart disease. Poor oral health also may place you at increased risk for developing diabetes"
• Chronic Periodontal Disease May Be Risk Factor For Diabetes - Doctor's Guide, 4/20/01 - "While it has been established that people with diabetes are more prone to developing periodontal disease, new research is suggesting that periodontal disease may, in turn, be a risk factor for diabetes ... Periodontal disease can cause bacteria to enter the bloodstream and activate immune cells. These activated cells produce inflammatory biological signals (cytokines) that have a destructive effect throughout the entire body"
• Tattletale Toothpaste, Toothbrush May Help Keep Cavities in Check - WebMD, 3/26/01
• FDA Approves Arestin (Minocycline) For Adult Periodontitis - Doctor's Guide, 2/19/01
• Technology makes possible a designer smile - CNN, 2/19/01
• Link May Exist Between Passive Smoking And Periodontal Disease, Researchers Say - Doctor's Guide, 2/15/98
• Straight Talk on Invisible Braces, They Work -- But For a Price - WebMD, 11/30/00
• New Research Finds Link Between Gum Disease, Acute Heart Attacks - Doctor's Guide, 11/13/00
• Bad Gums, Bad Heart Link Questioned - Intelihealth, 9/20/00
• FDA Approves Atrisorb Tissue Regeneration Barrier With Doxycycline - Doctor's Guide, 9/14/00
• Too Few Heart Patients Take Antibiotics Before Dental Work - WebMD, 7/5/00
• Women With Periodontal Disease More Likely to Delivery Premature Babies - Doctor's Guide, 5/8/00
• Atridox Periodontal Disease Treatment Approved In Europe - Doctor's Guide, 1/4/00
• Hormone Replacement May Slow Progression Of Periodontal Disease - Doctor's Guide, 8/30/99
• What Do You Think Of These New Teeth Whitening Methods? - Dr. Dean, 8/20/99
• Atridox Effective For Chronic Adult Periodontitis - Doctor's Guide, 6/16/99
• Periodontal Disease May Increase Risk Of Stroke - Doctor's Guide, 4/21/99
• Trip to the dentist becoming less painful - CNN, 11/30/98
• Atridox Therapy Now Available In U.S. For Periodontal Disease - Doctor's Guide, 12/12/98
• First Capsule For Adult Periodontitis, Periostat, Available in U.S. - Doctor's Guide, 11/18/98
• PerioChip Now Available In The U.S. For Periodontitis Treatment - Doctor's Guide, 9/16/98
• FDA Approves Atridox Periodontal Disease Treatment - Doctor's Guide, 9/8/98
• Study Of Bacteria Further Supports Possible Link Between Gum And Heart Disease - Doctor's Guide, 2/24/98
• Osteoporosis And Oral Health Closely Linked, Study Shows - Doctor's Guide, 2/16/98
• Medications Have Unintended Positive and Negative Side Effects on Gums - Doctor's Guide, 10/3/97
• Gum Grafting Provides New Smile Options - Doctor's Guide, 10/3/97
• Is a Trip to the Dentist Necessary for Moms-To-Be? - Doctor's Guide, 10/3/97
• Scientists Link Gum Health And Heart Disease In Humans - Doctor's Guide, 6/18/97
• New Product Launched to Repair Diseased Gums - Doctor's Guide, 4/16/97

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