Link Exists Between Plaque, Early Cancer Death

Link Exists Between Plaque, Early Cancer Death

Written by Dentistry TodayWednesday, 17 July 2013 15:15

Dental plaque could result in premature death in cancer patients, according to a new study.

The researchers determined that a large amount of plaque had some connection to a higher cancer mortality. When dental plaque is present it indicates bad oral hygiene, which is something that raises the risk of infection and ultimately may result in death.

A Swedish research team from the Karolinska Institute and a group from the University of Helsinki put the study together. The study appeared in theBMJ Open.

The study revealed that dental plaque could increase the risk of death by cancer by as much as 79 percent when analyzing all risk factors. Bacteria in the mouth is a big contributor to carcinogenesis.

Despite the findings from the study, the researchers emphasized that tooth decay does not directly cause cancer.

Based on this study and numerous studies in the past, poor oral health leads to poor overall health. It’s been proven that bad oral health may lead to Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease, stroke, and diabetes, among other health problems.

Gingival Stem Cells May be Utilized in Tissue Regeneration

Gingival Stem Cells May be Utilized in Tissue Regeneration

Written by Dentistry TodayTuesday, 23 July 2013 08:09

Gingival stem cells may have some newly discovered capabilities.

Gingiva was recently identified to possess mesenchymal stem cells. Essentially, it may be possible for gingiva to spur tissue regeneration. The gingiva represents a unique soft tissue that acts as a biological barrier to protecting the oral cavity side of the maxilla and mandible.

The information comes from a report by the International and American Associations for Dental Research. The report appeared in the Journal of Dental Research.

The research team showed that 90 percent of GMSCs stem from cranial neural crest cells and 10 percent from the mesoderm. When compared to the mesoderm MSCs, the CNCCs demonstrate an increased capacity to distinguish neural cells and chondrocytes. After being transplanted into mice with dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis, N-GMSCs displayed better effects in ameliorating inflammatory types of disease phenotype when compared with the M-GMSC treatment group.

More research is necessary to fully comprehend the connection between the neural crest cell and mesoderm that come from the gingiva mesenchymal stem cells. But it could be possible for gingiva to lead to stem cell regeneration.

Tooth Enamel Erosion from Soda May be Irreversible

Tooth Enamel Erosion from Soda May be Irreversible

Written by Dentistry TodayThursday, 25 July 2013 13:42

When it comes to your teeth, diet soda isn’t any better than regular soda.

Regardless of the type of soda, enough of it results in the erosion of the tooth enamel. In many cases, the damage can’t be turned back.

The amount of erosion cases from soda has risen drastically in the last 25 years. People drink gigantic amounts of soda, and erosion of the enamel is inevitable in many cases.

The average American now drinks 44 gal of soda each year, according to the National Soft Drink Association. The phosphoric and citric acid in the soda changes the pH balance in the mouth and eventually leads to tooth erosion when consumed in large quantities.

There are also many cases in which the teeth become more sensitive. The problem could alter what a person eats and drinks to prevent pain. There are even people with teeth so sensitive that their teeth hurt from the cold in the winter.

Many previous studies have indicated the correlation between soda consumption and enamel erosion or cavities.

The best measure to take is to avoid drinking soda. But if you like soda too much to give it up, limit it to meal time, don’t drink it throughout the day, brush your teeth later in the day (at the minimum, rinse with water), and chew sugarless gum or gum with xylitol.