Tag: oral health

Researchers have concluded that the way our immune system “learns” from previous threats may actually have a negative impact on areas like inflammation. The researchers used gum disease to investigate their theory. They found that the inflammation caused by gum disease ends up having a negative effect on physical health, and can actually worsen future inflammation-based conditions.

Our immune system is a remarkable thing. It fights diseases, protects us from viruses and can detect any issues that may compromise our safety and overall health.

The various battles that the immune system encounters results in it developing a “memory” of sorts to protect us in the future from similar threats.

This is mostly great for our overall health. But this also has the negative impact of the immune system sometimes responding to something that it determines to be a threat – even if it isn’t.

For example, when the immune system is challenged by an internal driver like chronic inflammation, it can result in a misguided immune system response.

Researchers have looked into the overall process of inflammation, with a specific focus on gum disease. Therefore, this research is very important for oral health.

Background

Some of the authors in this study had previously worked together on research into the “memory” of the immune system. They found that the immune system is capable of memorizing past threats, which helps it to become more responsive to new threats [1].

A trained and responsive immune system is mainly a positive thing. However, this isn’t always the case, as the immune system can sometimes misinterpret supposed threats.

The researchers focused on gum disease in this study. Gum disease is one of the most common dental disorders, with research finding that 47.2% of adults aged 30 and over in the United States have some form of gum disease [2].

Therefore, any research into gum disease can be very useful. A common problem with gum disease is that most people do not realize the impact that gum disease has on our physical health.

The Research

The research was completed by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Dental Medicine. Their findings were then published in the journal Cell [3].

The research sought to find out the impact gum disease has on the immune system in terms of future interactions with inflammatory-based conditions.

At first, the researchers exposed a mouse to gum disease. Within a week, some of the cells in the mouse expanded in the bone marrow [3].

The researchers found that the immune system of the mouse was capable of handling the periodontal disease [3]. Therefore, there were limited changes in the cells initially.

However, the researchers soon found that the cells appeared to have memorized the inflammation they were exposed to [3]. Therefore, the researchers found that when triggered by inflammation in the future, the immune system would react differently.

The mouse that was exposed to gum disease then had some cells transplanted to mice that had never previously been exposed to gum disease [3]. A few months later, the mice were exposed to collagen antibodies – which triggered arthritis. Arthritis is also associated with inflammation.

To act as a control, cell transplants were also conducted between mice without any form of gum disease and a group of separate mice [3]. This would allow the researchers to compare findings.

The researchers found that the mice that received the cells from mice with gum disease developed more severe arthritis when compared to mice that received cells from mice that were free of gum disease [3].

Overall, the researchers said that this showed the link between inflammatory conditions. The idea was that this study essentially replicated a bone marrow transplant [3]. The mouse with gum disease acted as a donor, with the healthy mice being the recipient.

The researchers were able to conclude that the mice that received a transplant from the group of mice with gum disease were predisposed to more severe arthritis [3].

Impact on dentistry

This research shows the impact that oral health can have on physical health. If these findings were applied to humans – it would show that those with gum disease are vulnerable to severe arthritis. Furthermore, they would also put those receiving a bone marrow transplant from them at heightened risk of inflammatory conditions.

Professor George Hajishengallis, one of the researchers, talked about the impact of these findings on dentistry. “I’m proud for the field of dentistry that this work, with significance to a wide range of medical conditions, began by investigating oral health”, Hajishengallis said [4].

The researchers also spoke of the wider impact these findings may have. They noted that their conclusions could result in a reconsideration of how bone marrow donors should be selected in the future [4]. The conclusions suggest that some bone marrow donors may unwittingly place their recipient at higher risk of inflammatory disorders.

Thinking points…

1) So many of us suffer from gum disease. As this research shows, gum disease does have a big impact on physical health. Treatments are available though for gum disease – including scaling and root planing. If you do have gum disease, it may be worth discussing treatment options with your dentist at your check-up. Consider booking an appointment today!

2) While you may not think you are at risk of gum disease, the truth is that we all are. A common theme in the news is that gum disease has a big impact on physical health. Therefore, if possible, preventing gum disease is crucial. The easiest way to do this is to have excellent oral hygiene, and attend regular dental check ups. We would recommend booking an appointment now!

What we offer at Savanna Dental

Savanna Dental is a Calgary dental clinic that provides a warm welcome and comfortable experience to its patience whenever needed.

Importantly, we recommend brushing your teeth at least twice a day and flossing regularly. Moreover, eating healthily and trying to avoid sugary foods and drink is helpful.

We advise our patients to attend our Calgary-based dental clinic twice a year for a regular dental check-up. When problems are detected, we have many treatments available. For instance, these include cavity fillings and root canals.

Here at Savanna Dental, we also have some cosmetic treatments available! These include dental implants, tooth whitening and Invisalign™! Many people find that these treatments have a positive impact on your appearance, confidence and self-esteem.

In addition, all of our services at our Calgary dental clinic Savanna Dental are in line with the Alberta Dental Fee Guide.

We would love you to visit our Savanna Dental clinic in Calgary! You can find out more about us by visiting our website https://savannadentalclinic.ca.

References

[1] Hajishengallis, G., & Chavakis, T. (2021). Local and systemic mechanisms linking periodontal disease and inflammatory comorbidities. Nature Reviews Immunology. 21: p426-440. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41577-020-00488-6.

[2] Eke, P. I., Dye, B. A., & Wei, L. (2012). Prevalence of Periodontitis in Adults in the United States: 2009 and 2010. Journal of Dental Research. 91 (10): p914-920. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0022034512457373.

[3] Li, X., Wang, H., Yu, X., Saha, G., Kalafati, L., Ioannidis, C., Mitroulis, I., Netea, M. G., Chavakis, T., & Hajishengallis, G. (2022). Maladaptive innate immune training of myelopoiesis links inflammatory comorbidities. Cell. (Pre-publication issue).DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2022.03.043.

[4] Baillie, K. U. (2022). How one inflammatory disorder exacerbates another. Available: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-04-inflammatory-disorder-exacerbates.html. Last accessed: 29th April 2022.

Researchers have looked in detail at the mechanism behind bone loss in gum disease. Gum disease is a condition that affects many people. Researchers used various techniques to find out the behaviour of certain pathogens, and whether or not they contribute to the progression of gum disease and bone loss. The research will hopefully help dentists discover new ways of best targeting gum disease in patients.

Recent research has analyzed the mechanism behind bone loss in gum disease. Many people suffer from a form of gum disease, making any research into the topic highly relevant.

The research involves double-stranded ribonucleic acid (RNA). Double-stranded RNA is a certain type of acid that plays an important role for humans. It develops naturally.

But the researchers wanted to investigate how RNA molecules affect the immune system, and its consequent response to threats. Moreover, they then wanted to see the consequent effects this had on oral health.

Background

It has been known for a while that bacterial plaque situated in the tooth pockets is what causes gum disease. Gum disease is a very common issue. In fact, around 90% of the world’s population have some form of it [1].

Gum disease is a debilitating condition which can cause pain and irritation. If left untreated, it is possible that eventual tooth removal will need to follow. This happens as a result of bone loss. Multiple types of bacteria contribute to bone loss in gum disease [2].

Bacteria types have molecules called lipopolysaccharides within them. Lipopolysaccharides support the mouth by activating the immune system when under attack.

However, it is also linked to gum inflammation, which is a key symptom of gum disease. It is believed that this is due to lipopolysaccharides recognizing bacteria as pathogens [3].

The Research

The research was conducted by the Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology. Their conclusions were published in the March issue of the Journal of Biological Chemistry [4].

The point of this research was to look into the process of lipopolysaccharides recognising the bacteria, and the eventual impact it has on the progression of gum disease and bone loss [4].

To begin with, the researchers used bone marrow cells from mice and a synthetic molecule to imitate human RNA. The researchers then exposed the bone marrow cells to the RNA [4].

Their combination led to the RNA breaking down the bone within the bone marrow cells [4]. Therefore, this made it clear to the researchers that the RNA had a strong impact on bones.

The immune system response led to the bones being further affected. While a process called stromal osteoblast helped to build new bone material for some bones, many were damaged, causing the bone to erode [4].

When the gums become inflamed from bacterial disease, a similar process happens, where the bones gradually erode. While some bones may be able to rebuild, many won’t – which worsens gum disease [4].

What this means

The researchers noted in their conclusions that the results were important for the management of gum disease. They noted that when RNA is introduced via bacteria, the immune system response clearly shows how inflammation occurs [3].

Looking to the future, the researchers suggested that their findings could be helpful for dental professionals. Dentists always preach the importance of looking after the health of our gums, with this article again emphasizing their importance.

They wish to further examine RNA’s impact on the immune system going forward. They noted that this may help develop drugs in the future that could prevent bone loss from gum disease [3].

Thinking points…

1) The main focus of this article is gum disease. As mentioned above, the majority of people have some form of the condition. If left untreated, pain and possible tooth removal could eventually happen. Therefore, it is important to attend regular dental check-ups, as a dentist will be able to look at the state of your gums, and give you an update. Why not book an appointment right away!

2) This article also discusses bacteria. Many people don’t realise that bacteria enters our mouths very easily! It isn’t just a case that bacteria enters our mouths just when eating and drinking. When we bite our nails, chew on a pen lid – these are all ways of bacteria making it into our mouths. Therefore, remember to be careful about what you put into your mouth, and have strong oral hygiene!

What we offer at Savanna Dental

Savanna Dental is a Calgary dental clinic that provides a warm welcome and comfortable experience to its patience whenever needed.

We recommend that our patients attend our Calgary-based dental clinic twice a year for a regular dental check-up. When problems are detected, we have many treatments available. For instance, these include cavity fillings and root canals.

Here at [clinic], we also have some cosmetic treatments available! These include dental implants, tooth whitening and Invisalign™! These treatments can have a positive impact on your appearance, confidence and self-esteem.

Importantly, we recommend brushing your teeth at least twice a day and flossing regularly. Moreover, eating healthily and trying to avoid sugary foods and drink is helpful.

In addition, all of our services at our Calgary dental clinic Savanna Dental are in line with the Alberta Dental Fee Guide.

We would love you to visit our Savanna Dental clinic in Calgary! You can find out more about us by visiting our website https://savannadentalclinic.ca.

References

[1] Pihlstrom, B. L., Michalowicz, B. S., & Johnson, N. W. (2005). Periodontal diseases. Lancet. 366 (9499), p1809-1820. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(05)67728-8.

[2] Tominari, T., Sanada, A., Ichimaru, R., Matsumoto, C., Hirata, M., Itoh, Y., Numabe, Y., Miyaura, C., & Inada, M. (2021). Gram-positive bacteria cell wall-derived lipoteichoic acid induces inflammatory alveolar bone loss through prostaglandin E production in osteoblasts. Scientific Reports. 11 (13353). DOI: https://www.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-92744-5.

[3] Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology. (2022). Double-stranded RNA induces bone loss during gum disease. Available: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-04-double-stranded-rna-bone-loss-gum.html. Last accessed: 16th April 2022.

[4] Tominari, T., Akita, M., Matsumoto, C., Hirata, M., Yoshinouchi, S., Tanaka, Y., Karouji, K., Itoh, Y., Maruyama, T., Miyaura, C., Numabe, Y., & Inada, M. (2022). Endosomal TLR3 signaling in stromal osteoblasts induces prostaglandin E2–mediated inflammatory periodontal bone resorption. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 298 (3). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbc.2022.101603.

Covid-19 has caused a huge range of problems for the oral health of children. Recent research has identified several trends associated with the dental health of children in the last few years. Among the issues are a low dental check-up attendance rate and a sharp increase in the number of youngsters having cavities and tooth decay. The findings are worrying, and shows how the oral health of children has been a hidden victim of the pandemic.

The Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted and impacted the lives of billions of people. Many effects were visible – the millions of tragic deaths, hospitals becoming overran and lockdowns.

But some effects have been invisible – such as mental health problems and economic concerns. However, one other neglected area that has been impacted is oral health.

Now, a new study has focused on the impact Covid-19 has had on the dental health of children. The results are rather worrying, and suggests the oral health of children has been poorly affected by the pandemic.

Background

Covid-19 started to spread in the first half of 2020, before creating chaos for several months. In fact, at the time of writing, the World Health Organization reports that over 6.1million people have died from Covid-19 [1].

The lockdown restrictions have meant that many children have led a more sedentary lifestyle than previous generations. Moreover, increased sugary food consumption has happened – causing severe problems for oral health [2].

Routine dental care was suspended soon into the pandemic, with dental clinics around the world only offering emergency care. Therefore, fewer routine check-ups took place, meaning chances to see and treat dental problems were missed.

Moreover, with most students learning online, regular routines were stopped. As a result, some children would have stopped cleaning their teeth on some days.

The research

Researchers from the Tufts University School of Dental Medicine have completed a study that focuses on the oral health of children. Their findings will be presented in May’s annual meeting of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry [3].

The researchers analyzed pediatric emergency cases at Tufts between 2018 and 2021 [3]. 2018 and 2019 represented pre-pandemic cases, while 2020 and 2021 would be used to measure cases during the pandemic.

As a result of comparing data across these years, the researchers were able to discover many trends. Furthermore, many of these findings were very worrying.

For example, the likelihood of a child in the United States visiting a dental in 2020 (during the pandemic) was 27% lower when compared to 2019 [3]. This represents a huge decline.

Another worrying finding concerned emergency cases seen at Tufts. Pre-pandemic, 44% of the emergency cases were for dental infections. However, this number rose to 56% during the pandemic [3]. Therefore, problems worsened over the pandemic.

The researchers also saw an increased level of cavities and tooth decay [3]. They also found that abscesses were forming, which could cause potentially “life-threatening” complications [3].

Another finding was that young emergency patients treated during Covid-19 were much less likely to return for a follow-up appointment compared to pre-pandemic [3]. The researchers concluded that this was due to parents being reluctant to attend emergency clinics during the pandemic [3].

In terms of general fitness, the authors were also worried about the nature of emergency room visits. They pointed out that before the pandemic, that most dental injuries were caused by sports [3]. Because of the restrictions in place, most children are spending time indoors, resulting in less physical activity.

One positive was that the researchers noted that since the end of the study – in August 2021 – more patients have been coming in for routine appointments [3]. This shows that people are starting to make the most out of having routine access to dental clinics now.

What this means

The above findings show the impact that Covid-19 has had on the oral health of children. Because of the areas outlined above, it seems that the oral health of many children has worsened during Covid-19.

Cheen Loo, Professor and Chairwoman of Pediatric Dentistry at the Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, discussed the findings of the research [4].

Loo mentioned that “a lot of parents were hesitant about coming to a dental visit” [4]. But she mentioned that now it seems that numbers are returning to a pre-pandemic level.

Moreover, Loo said that parents commonly “delayed dental treatment for their children”, with many waiting for their child to be vaccinated [4]. Due to the vaccination rollout, more people are now willing to attend dental clinics.

As more children get to visit a dentist, it is hoped that there will be less emergency room visits for oral health problems. The aim is for oral health to greatly improve post-pandemic.

Thinking points…

1) The research above shows how much children have struggled with their oral health over the pandemic. Children especially need assistance with their teeth. If you have children, it is important to book them a check-up to see how their teeth have been doing since the pandemic. A dentist will be able to offer advice and provide treatment if needed. Consider booking an appointment now!

2) It isn’t just children that have had their oral health impacted by Covid-19 – adults have seen problems rise. Many people have been reluctant to return to a dental clinic. However, with routine dentistry being offered again, now is an excellent time to book a check-up. Any problems can be identified and then treated. We strongly recommend booking an appointment soon.

What we offer at Savanna Dental

Savanna Dental is a Calgary dental clinic that offers many services, including regular check-ups, cavity fillings and root canals.

We are also pleased to offer some cosmetic services. Here at our Calgary dental clinic, we offer treatments like tooth whitening, Invisalign™ and implants.

It is important for dental problems to be addressed early. Any oral-based problems will be identified at check-ups. This helps to prevent the problem getting worse. If and when further treatment is needed after a check-up, our patients receive a clear treatment plan.

The best way of avoiding extra treatment is to have strong oral hygiene. This includes brushing our teeth at least twice a day, flossing regularly, and getting a dental check-up at least twice a year. Avoiding sugary foods and drink and not smoking also helps.

Our Calgary-based dental clinic Savanna Dental also follows the Alberta Dental Fee Guide. This means our prices are competitive, transparent and affordable.

We would love you to visit us here at Savanna Dental soon! You can see more about us by visiting our website https://savannadentalclinic.ca.

References

[1] World Health Organization. (2022). WHO Coronavirus (COVID-19) Dashboard. Available: https://covid19.who.int/. Last accessed: 3rd April 2022.

[2] Entertainment Times. (2022). COVID-19 and its connection with a high sugar diet. Available: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/food-news/covid-19-and-its-connection-with-a-high-sugar-diet/photostory/90109541.cms. Last accessed: 3rd April 2022.

[3] Lyu, W., & Wehby, G. L. (2022). Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Children’s Oral Health and Dental Care Use. (Pre-publication issue)/ DOI: https://www.doi.org/10.1016/j.adaj.2022.02.008.

[4] Ragovin, H. (2022). For kids, toothaches become another kind of pandemic pain. Available: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-03-kids-toothaches-kind-pandemic-pain.html. Last accessed: 3rd April 2022.