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 find that having one kind of autoimmune disease can lead to another

Researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus have discovered that having one kind of autoimmune disease can lead to another.

4 Jan 2022

Missouri’s thin dental safety net stretched amid Medicaid expansion

At the Access Family Care clinics in southwestern Missouri, the next available nonemergency dental appointment is next summer. Northwest Health Services, headquartered in St. Joseph, is booked through May. The wait is a little shorter at CareSTL Health in St. Louis — around six weeks.

16 Nov 2021

Study improves understanding of the link between obesity and gum disease

Chronic inflammation caused by obesity may trigger the development of cells that break down bone tissue, including the bone that holds teeth in place, according to new University at Buffalo research that sought to improve understanding of the connection between obesity and gum disease.

12 Nov 2021

Research examines the effectiveness of various oral hygiene tools

Do probiotics prevent gum disease? Is flossing necessary? Many patients are unable to confidently answer these questions and more due to the abundance of conflicting medical information

30 Sep 2021

Gram-positive and -negative bacteria found to be involved in periodontal bone loss

Mouths are filthy, harboring the second largest microbiome of the human body. Some bacteria can help break down food, among other responsibilities; other bacteria can travel into the mouth on food, fingers, pen caps and more to contribute to gum disease and other oral infections.

22 Sep 2021

Periodontitis associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease

Gum disease is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease: the more severe the periodontitis, the higher the risk. The findings are presented at ESC Congress 2021.

25 Aug 2021

Study sheds new light on why some people may be more prone to serious gum infection

A team led by University of Washington researchers has, for the first time, identified and classified how different people respond to the accumulation of dental plaque, the sticky biofilm that gathers on teeth.

14 Jul 2021

Researchers develop an intraoral device for weight loss

University of Otago, New Zealand, and UK researchers have developed a world-first weight-loss device to help fight the global obesity epidemic.

28 Jun 2021

Why your dentist might seem pushy

In 1993, Dr. David Silber, a dentist now practicing in Plano, Texas, was fired from the first dental clinic he worked for.

19 May 2021

EFP launches Europerio Series to showcase the hottest topics in oral health

Get ready for the hottest topics in oral health with the EuroPerio Series, a virtual initiative of the European Federation of Periodontology.

13 Apr 2021

Exercise could be used to improve the oral environment in people with NAFLD

Liver disease, from metabolic and bacterial causes, is a growing concern. What connects these dots? The gut, or more specifically, bacteria in the gut.

12 Apr 2021

Imbalanced bacterial community in the gums linked to Alzheimer's disease biomarker

Older adults with more harmful than healthy bacteria in their gums are more likely to have evidence for amyloid beta--a key biomarker for Alzheimer's disease--in their cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), according to new research from NYU College of Dentistry and Weill Cornell Medicine.

12 Apr 2021

Study examines the impact of dental coverage offered through Michigan’s Medicaid expansion

As the pandemic's economic effects drive more people to enroll in Medicaid as safety-net health insurance, a new study suggests that the program's dental coverage can improve their oral health in ways that help them seek a new job or do better at the one they have.

23 Mar 2021

Periodontal inflammation associated with higher risk of major cardiovascular events

People with periodontitis are at higher risk of experiencing major cardiovascular events, according to new research from Forsyth Institute and Harvard University scientists and colleagues.

22 Feb 2021

Periodontitis treatment that changes oral bacteria also reduces severity of diabetes

We know that what happens in the mouth doesn't stay in the mouth - but the oral cavity's connection to the rest of the body goes way beyond chewing, swallowing and digestion.

9 Feb 2021

Study shows link between periodontitis and COVID-19 complications

COVID-19 patients are at least three times more likely to experience complications if they also have gum disease, according to research published today in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology, the official publication of the European Federation of Periodontology.

2 Feb 2021

Researchers test the effects of growth molecules exuded by oral bacteria

The human body is filled with friendly bacteria. However, some of these microorganisms, such as Veillonella parvula, maybe too nice.

6 Jan 2021

Biological imbalance found to be the link between gum and kidney disease

An imbalance of the body's oxygen producing free radicals and its antioxidant cells could be the reason why gum disease and chronic kidney disease affect each other, a new study led by the University of Birmingham has found.

5 Jan 2021

Virtual telehealth platform enables kidney transplant evaluation from home

A virtual telehealth platform is allowing the surgery program at the Medical University of South Carolina to evaluate and wait-list patients for kidney transplantation despite reductions in direct, in-person health care visits brought about by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

21 Dec 2020

Novel insights open up new avenues for treating autoimmune conditions

Immune response is a balancing act: Too much can lead to inflammatory or autoimmune disease; too little could lead to a serious infection. Regulatory T cells, or Tregs, are important players in striking this balance, acting as "brakes" on the immune response so it doesn't go overboard.

27 Oct 2020