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.

New photoacoustic imaging technique uses squid ink to examine patient's gum health

Squid ink might be a great ingredient to make black pasta, but it could also one day make getting checked for gum disease at the dentist less tedious and even painless.

7 Sep 2017

Targeting bone marrow protein could be effective way to improve stem cell transplants

Bone marrow contains hematopoetic stem cells, the precursors to every blood cell type. These cells spring into action following bone marrow transplants, bone marrow injury and during systemic infection, creating new blood cells, including immune cells, in a process known as hematopoiesis.

28 Aug 2017

Study shows link between history of gum disease and increased cancer risk in older women

Postmenopausal women who have a history of gum disease also have a higher risk of cancer, according to a new study of more than 65,000 women.

1 Aug 2017

Diabetes-induced changes in oral microbiome promote periodontal bone loss

A new study led by University of Pennsylvania researchers has found that the oral microbiome is affected by diabetes, causing a shift to increase its pathogenicity.

12 Jul 2017

Cigarette smoking causes diverse harm that extends way beyond the lungs

Warning: Cigarette smoking presents far more health hazards than you probably realize.

14 Jun 2017

Common periodontal pathogen may delay conception in young women, study finds

According to a study carried out at the University of Helsinki, a common periodontal pathogen may delay conception in young women.

13 Jun 2017

Frequent recreational cannabis use linked to increased risk of gum disease

Columbia University dental researchers have found that frequent recreational use of cannabis--including marijuana, hashish, and hash oil--increases the risk of gum disease.

24 May 2017

Gum disease and tooth loss may be linked to increased risk of death in postmenopausal women

Gum disease and tooth loss may be associated with a higher risk of death in postmenopausal women but not increased cardiovascular disease risk, according to new research in Journal of the American Heart Association, the open access journal of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.

29 Mar 2017

Dental plaque DNA of Neandertals provides insights into behaviour, diet and medication

Ancient DNA found in the dental plaque of Neandertals - our nearest extinct relative - has provided remarkable new insights into their behaviour, diet and evolutionary history, including their use of plant-based medicine to treat pain and illness.

8 Mar 2017

Estrogen therapy can lead to healthier teeth and gums in postmenopausal women, study suggests

Estrogen therapy has already been credited with helping women manage an array of menopause-related issues, including reducing hot flashes, improving heart health and bone density, and maintaining levels of sexual satisfaction.

22 Feb 2017

Study discovers how gut bacteria interacts with microRNAs to promote colon cancer growth

Gut microbes can influence the growth of colon cancer, though little is known about how they trigger the disease.

14 Feb 2017

Common bacterium that causes gum infections may trigger rheumatoid arthritis

Investigators at Johns Hopkins report they have new evidence that a bacterium known to cause chronic inflammatory gum infections also triggers the inflammatory "autoimmune" response characteristic of chronic, joint-destroying rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

15 Dec 2016

New research suggests only 12% of older Americans have dental insurance

Only 12 percent of older Americans have some form of dental insurance and fewer than half visited a dentist in the previous year, suggests new Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health research on Medicare beneficiaries.

6 Dec 2016

Research validates effectiveness of world-first dental vaccine

A world-first vaccine developed by Melbourne scientists, which could eliminate or at least reduce the need for surgery and antibiotics for severe gum disease, has been validated by research published this weekend in a leading international journal.

5 Dec 2016

Exposure to e-cigarette vapor destroys large number of mouth cells

A large number of mouth cells exposed to e-cigarette vapor in the laboratory die within a few days, according to a study conducted by Université Laval researchers and published in the latest issue of Journal of Cellular Physiology.

16 Nov 2016

New study highlights detrimental effects of e-cigarettes on oral health

A University of Rochester Medical Center study suggests that electronic cigarettes are as equally damaging to gums and teeth as conventional cigarettes.

16 Nov 2016

SWAT team of immune cells linked to low infection rates after cleft lip and palate surgery in infants

The mouth is widely considered the dirtiest part of the human body, yet babies have surprisingly low infection rates following cleft lip and palate surgery.

18 Oct 2016

Columbia researchers discover genes that may cause gum disease

Researchers at Columbia University College of Dental Medicine Columbia University Medical Center have identified 41 master regulator genes that may cause gum disease, also known as periodontal disease. The study was the first of its kind to employ genome-wide reverse engineering to identify the gene pathways that contribute to periodontitis.

4 Oct 2016

Bacteria in smokeless tobacco products linked to opportunistic infections

Several species of bacteria found in smokeless tobacco products have been associated with opportunistic infections, according to a paper published August 26 in Applied and Environmental Microbiology, a journal of the American Society for Microbiology.

26 Aug 2016

Research opens door to new class of treatments for gum disease

If you hate going to the dentist, here's some good news. New research published online in The FASEB Journal, shows that melanocortin agonism may effectively control the inflammation that often occurs in gum tissue, which when unchecked, ultimately accelerates tooth and bone loss.

17 Aug 2016