Gum Disease News and Research

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Gum disease or periodontal disease is an infection caused by bacteria under the gum tissue that begin to destroy the gums and bone. Teeth become loose, chewing becomes difficult, and teeth may have to be extracted. Gum disease may also be related to damage elsewhere in the body; recent studies point to associations between such oral infections and diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and preterm, low-weight births. Research is underway to further examine these connections.

Scientists discover mechanism linking gum disease to inflammatory conditions

The link between periodontal (gum) disease and other inflammatory conditions such as heart disease and diabetes has long been established, but the mechanism behind that association has, until now, remained a mystery.

20 Oct 2020

Scientists examine the sustainability of different models of toothbrush

Researchers at Trinity College Dublin have examined the sustainability of different models of the most commonly used oral health product - the toothbrush - to ascertain which is best for the planet and associated human health.

17 Sep 2020

Perio & Cardio educational campaign outlines the link between periodontal and heart health

Patients with gum disease should be told that they have a higher risk of suffering cardiovascular diseases - including myocardial infarction and stroke - and that they should actively manage risk factors such as smoking, lack of exercise, excess weight, blood pressure, and a diet high in saturated fats and refined sugars.

15 Sep 2020

Gum disease and esophageal and stomach cancer risk

American researchers have published their new findings on gum disease in a research letter in the latest issue of the journal Gut titled, "Periodontal disease, tooth loss, and risk of oesophageal and gastric adenocarcinoma: a prospective study."

20 Jul 2020

New strategy identified to address the underlying cause of LAD1 patients' symptoms

Owing to a rare genetic mutation, individuals with leukocyte adhesion deficiency type 1 (LAD1) experience a suite of symptoms that trace back to an immune system dysfunction.

27 May 2020

Gum Health Day 2020 to be celebrated worldwide on 12 May

"Say NO to bleeding gums" is the slogan for Gum Health Day 2020, to be celebrated worldwide on 12 May. Its goal is to raise public awareness about bleeding gums, which are usually a sign of a gum disease that will require treatment at the dental practice.

11 May 2020

Immune-regulating drug reverses dental problems in aging mice

A drug that has life-extending effects on mice also reverses age-related dental problems in the animals, according to a new study published today in eLife.

28 Apr 2020

Entamoeba gingivalis linked to severe and recurrent periodontitis

For the first time, researchers from Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin have shown that a unicellular parasite commonly found in the mouth plays a role in both severe tissue inflammation and tissue destruction.

16 Apr 2020

New insights into the building blocks of periodontitis

Porphyromonas gingivalis is a major bacterial pathogen which leads to periodontitis also known as gum disease. In Japan, 80% of adults aged 35 and over suffer from this disease. What's more, P. gingivalis has also been linked to rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular disease, pancreatic cancer, and even Alzheimer's disease.

13 Apr 2020

The building blocks of gum disease

A team of researchers has revealed the structure of adhesive pili and shed light on how they assemble, causing Periodontitis.

13 Apr 2020

Dental teams could play key role in early detection of Type 2 and pre-diabetes

Dental teams could play an integral role in identifying people at high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes as well as in the early detection of the condition in those who are undiagnosed, new research suggests.

4 Mar 2020

Gum disease linked to stroke

A pair of new studies has revealed that gum diseases could be associated with a heightened risk of strokes and atherosclerosis of hardening of the arterial walls. The results of this new research are to be presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2020 between 19th and 21st of February 2020 in Los Angeles.

12 Feb 2020

Why yogurt consumption may help reduce breast cancer risk

One of the causes of breast cancer may be inflammation triggered by harmful bacteria say researchers.

24 Jan 2020

Scurvy is still found in Canada

Scurvy, the debilitating condition remembered as a disease of pirates, is still found in Canada.

18 Jan 2020

New study explores the effect of obesity on non-surgical periodontal care

Obesity and gum (periodontal) disease are among the most common non-communicable diseases in the United States--and studies show these chronic conditions may be related.

3 Dec 2019

Tips to help older adults maintain good oral health

Older adults are at an especially high risk for mouth and tooth infections and the complications that can come with these problems.

10 Nov 2019

Sugar-sweetened acidic drinks linked to obesity and tooth wear among adults

A new study published today in the journal Clinical Oral Investigations, has found that sugar-sweetened acidic drinks, such as soft drinks, is the common factor between obesity and tooth wear among adults.

28 Oct 2019

Chemical-sensing cells in the gums protect the mouth from infections

Newly discovered chemical-sensing cells in the gums protect the mouth by standing guard against infections that damage soft tissue and destroy the bone that supports the teeth, report researchers from the Monell Chemical Senses Center in an animal study published this week in Nature Communications.

3 Oct 2019

Gum disease associated with greater risk of high blood pressure

People with gum disease (periodontitis) have a greater likelihood of high blood pressure (hypertension), according to a study published today in Cardiovascular Research, a journal of the European Society of Cardiology.

24 Sep 2019

New molecules that could help tackle tooth loss and regeneration discovered

Our teeth take thousands of bites per day, and understanding exactly what holds them in place and how is key to helping people live with their own teeth for longer.

30 Aug 2019