Gum Disease News and Research

RSS

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.

UIC researchers receive NIH funding to develop a better way to regenerate bone or tissues

University of Illinois at Chicago researchers have received approximately $2 million in funding from the National Institutes of Health to develop a better way to regenerate bone or tissues that have been lost to disease or injury.

14 Aug 2018

Diet rich in whole grain carbohydrates less likely to damage oral health

An examination of research on oral health, commissioned by the World Health Organisation, has indicated that for oral health we should stick to whole grain carbohydrates and avoid processed ones, especially if sweet.

7 Aug 2018

Study demonstrates increased levels of gum disease in people at risk of rheumatoid arthritis

The results of a study presented at the Annual European Congress of Rheumatology demonstrates increased levels of gum disease, and disease-causing bacteria, in individuals at risk of rheumatoid arthritis.

18 Jun 2018

Delta Dental promotes healthy smiles across Wisconsin through nutrition

A balanced, nutritious diet is essential to healthy living, as well as a healthy smile. To celebrate National Smile Month, Delta Dental of Wisconsin, the state's largest dental insurance provider, is contributing healthy food and toothbrushes to five food pantries across Wisconsin.

5 Jun 2018

Alcoholic drinks affect oral bacteria tied to diseases

When compared with nondrinkers, men and women who had one or more alcoholic drinks per day had an overabundance of oral bacteria linked to gum disease, some cancers, and heart disease. By contrast, drinkers had fewer bacteria known to check the growth of other, harmful germs.

24 Apr 2018

Smart-tooth technology shows promise in detecting certain diseases in high-risk patients

An interdisciplinary team of researchers from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and the School of Engineering & Applied Science is redefining the notion of a wisdom tooth.

19 Apr 2018

New report sheds light on older adults’ oral health

A new report by the Center for Oral Health found that a significant number of older Californians are plagued by oral health problems despite the fact that dental disease is largely preventable.

30 Mar 2018

Wine polyphenols may be good for oral health

Sipping wine is good for your colon and heart, possibly because of the beverage's abundant and structurally diverse polyphenols. Now researchers report in ACS' Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry that wine polyphenols might also be good for your oral health.

21 Feb 2018

Cholesterol and other lipids in the blood play role in many diseases

Lipids are fatty molecules that play important signaling and storage roles in the body, but having an excess of some lipids, like cholesterol, is a risk factor for many metabolic diseases.

8 Feb 2018

Study provides more evidence for link between increased cancer risk and advanced gum disease

Data collected during a long-term health study provides additional evidence for a link between increased risk of cancer in individuals with advanced gum disease, according to a new collaborative study led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center and Tufts University School of Medicine and Cancer Center.

19 Jan 2018

Bacteria linked to periodontitis may play role in onset of cancer

The bacteria that cause periodontitis, a disease affecting the tissues surrounding the teeth, seems to play a part also in the onset of pancreatic cancer, say the researchers at the University of Helsinki and the Helsinki University Hospital, Finland, and the Karolinska Institutet, Sweden.

16 Jan 2018

EPF raises awareness campaign to improve oral health

In order to call attention to the growing burden of tooth decay and severe gum disease, and to the simple and cost-effective preventive interventions available to address these conditions, the European Federation of Periodontology is launching the Perio and Caries awareness campaign today.

11 Jan 2018

A poor neighborhood in Chicago looks to Cuba to fight infant mortality

Over the past few months, medical professionals on Chicago's South Side have been trying a new tactic to bring down the area's infant mortality rate: find women of childbearing age and ask them about everything.

10 Jan 2018

Poor oral health contributes to frailty in older adults

Oral health issues are common among older adults. These issues include tooth loss, gum disease, tooth decay, and dry mouth.

4 Jan 2018

Frail patients losing access to dental house calls

Devon Rising shakes his head and tries to cover his face with his hands. It's time to get his few remaining teeth cleaned, and he fusses for a bit.

2 Jan 2018

Researchers identify oral bacteria linked to esophageal cancer

Researchers at NYU Langone Health's Perlmutter Cancer Center report that at least three kinds of bacteria in the mouths of Americans may heighten or lower their risk of developing esophageal cancer.

1 Dec 2017

Oral bacteria that lead to periodontal disease linked to higher risk of esophageal cancer

An analysis of bacteria present in the mouth showed that some types of bacteria that lead to periodontal disease were associated with higher risk of esophageal cancer.

1 Dec 2017

Discovery of natural molecule could lead to effective treatments for gum disease and atherosclerosis

Resolvin E1, a molecule produced naturally in the body from an omega -3 fish oil, topically applied on gum tissues not only prevents and treats gum disease as previously shown (Hasturk et al 2006 and 2007), but also decreases the likelihood for advanced arterial atherosclerotic plaques to rupture and form a dangerous thrombus or blood clot.

16 Nov 2017

Research may explain why gum disease is linked to heart problems

Heart disease and fatty clogs in the arteries go hand in hand. But new evidence suggests the fatty molecules might come not only from what you eat, but from the bacteria in your mouth, report UConn scientists in the 16 August issue of the Journal of Lipid Research.

1 Nov 2017

Novel dental imaging technique using food-grade cuttlefish ink developed

A team of researchers and engineers from the University of California San Diego have found a new use for food-grade cuttlefish ink – to detect gum disease.

7 Sep 2017