I came across an interesting dental article on the Web MD Health News site the other day. The article is entitled ‘Fatty Fish, Nuts May Prevent Gum Disease.’ Author Jennifer Warner explains that a recent study links diets high in polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) with a lower risk of periodontitis.

Gum disease is a common dental issue for many Gainesville GA folks. When gum tissue pulls away from a tooth, it forms a pocket. (You know what they say about Nature abhorring a vacuum.) This pocket is a warm, moist place for bacteria to flourish. If periodontitis goes untreated, the tooth and jaw bone are at risk. During dental examinations, I carefully measure gumline pockets and examine all teeth for gum disease.

“Researchers found that people whose diets were rich in PUFAs were as much as 30 percent less likely to have gum disease than those who ate little or none of this type of fat.”

Foods high in PUFAs include salmon, tuna, trout, mackerel, sardines, herring. Oils high in PUFAs include safflower oil, soybean oil, corn oil, sunflower oil, and margarines made with the previously mentioned oils. Almonds, pine nuts, walnuts, pecans, brazil nuts, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds and flax seeds are high PUFA nuts/seeds.

I don’t know many families in Gainesville GA that regularly eat mackerel and herring. Maybe some of us could benefit from becoming more adventurous when it comes to seafood.

The possible prevention of gum disease is not the only reason to eat high PUFA foods. These foods pack a nutritional punch and have myriad health benefits. The next time you are stocking up at a Georgia Costco, you may want to add some salmon and walnuts to your list.

It is important to understand that diet alone will not treat or prevent gum disease, however it may be an additional tool for maintaining healthy teeth and gums.

If you have not been to your Gainesville GA family dentist in a while, I urge you to schedule an examination and cleaning today. We are currently taking new Gainesville GA dental clients at Weber Family Dental.

If you are interested in teeth whitening, smile makeovers, tooth-colored fillings or invisible braces, call us today to schedule an appointment.

Dr. Joseph Weber
Weber Family Dental
1146 S Enota Dr NE
Gainesville Georgia, 30501
678.928.9320
http://www.weberfamilydental.com/about.php
Georgia Dental Association

with varying degrees of treatment depending on the severity.

What is periodontal disease? Periodontal disease, more commonly called ‘gum disease‘, is an inflammation or infection of the gums. Gum disease can be very painful in some extreme conditions, and can limit your ability to eat normally. In some cases, periodontal disease can affect your smile, and can create cosmetic concerns.

If left untreated, gum disease can cause irreversible damage. When caught early and treated, gum disease can be little more than an inconvenience. However the best policy is to practice good dental hygiene to keep periodontal disease at bay.

One of the best ways to avoid gum disease is to get a regular dental check up at your local Gainesville, GA general dentist.

Give us a call to schedule your next dental checkup; we look forward to seeing you.

CHICAGO, Illinois–Cardiovascular disease, the leading killer in the United States, is a major public health issue that contributes to 2,400 deaths each day.

Periodontal disease, a chronic inflammatory disease that destroys the bone and tissues that support the teeth, affects nearly 75 percent of Americans and is the major cause of adult tooth loss. While the prevalence rates of these disease states seem grim, research suggests that managing one disease may reduce the risk for the other.

A consensus paper on the relationship between heart disease and gum disease was recently developed by the American Academy of Periodontology and The American Journal of Cardiology. The paper is published concurrently in the online versions of the AJC, a peer-reviewed journal circulated to 30,000 cardiologists, and the Journal of Periodontology, the official publication of the AAP.

Developed in concert by cardiologists and periodontists, the paper includes clinical recommendations for medical and dental professionals to use in managing patients living with, or who are at risk for, either disease. As a result of the paper, cardiologists may now examine a patient’s mouth, and periodontists may begin asking questions about heart health and family history of heart disease.

Specific clinical recommendations include:

* Patients with periodontitis who have one known major atherosclerotic CVD risk factor such as smoking, immediate family history for CVD, or history of dyslipidemia should consider a medical evaluation if they have not done so within the past 12 months.

* A periodontal evaluation should be considered in patients with atherosclerotic CVD who have: signs or symptoms of gingival disease, significant tooth loss, and unexplained elevation of hs-CRP or other inflammatory biomarkers.

* A periodontal evaluation of patients with atherosclerotic CVD should include a comprehensive examination of periodontal tissues, as assessed by visual signs of inflammation and bleeding on probing, loss of connective tissue attachment detected by periodontal probing measurements, and bone loss assessed radiographically. If patients have untreated or uncontrolled periodontitis, they should be treated with a focus on reducing and controlling the bacterial accumulations and eliminating inflammation.

* When periodontitis is newly diagnosed in patients with atherosclerotic CVD, periodontists and physicians managing patients’ CVD should closely collaborate in order to optimize CVD risk reduction and periodontal care.

The clinical recommendations were developed at a meeting held in early 2009 of top opinion leaders in cardiology and periodontology. The consensus paper also summarizes the scientific evidence that links periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease and explains the underlying biologic and inflammatory mechanisms that may be the basis for the connection.

According to Kenneth Kornman, DDS, PhD, editor of the Journal of Periodontology and a co-author of the consensus report, the cooperation between the cardiology and periodontal communities is an important first step in helping patients reduce their risk of these associated diseases.

“Inflammation is a major risk factor for heart disease, and periodontal disease may increase the inflammation level throughout the body,” Dr. Kornman said. “Since several studies have shown that patients with periodontal disease have an increased risk for cardiovascular disease, we felt it was important to develop clinical recommendations for our respective specialties. Therefore, you will now see cardiologists and periodontists joining forces to help our patients.”

While additional research will help identify the precise relationship between periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease, recent emphasis has been placed on the role of inflammation–the body’s reaction to fight off infection, guard against injury or shield against irritation.

While inflammation initially intends to have a protective effect, untreated chronic inflammation can lead to dysfunction of the affected tissues, and therefore to more severe health complications.

“Both periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease are inflammatory diseases, and inflammation is the common mechanism that connects them,” said Dr. David Cochran, DDS, PhD, president of the AAP and chair of the Department of Periodontics at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.

“The clinical recommendations included in the consensus paper will help periodontists and cardiologists control the inflammatory burden in the body as a result of gum disease or heart disease, thereby helping to reduce further disease progression, and ultimately to improve our patients’ overall health. That is our common goal.”

Fortunately, your smile can be attractive and healthy throughout your golden years!

Even if your teeth are showing visible signs of wear such as enamel loss, staining, and chips, it is not too late to restore your youthful smile. And, though tooth loss is fairly common for Gainesville residents over sixty, in most cases it is preventable.

At Weber Family Dental, we treat patients of all ages. We specialize in restorative dentistry and dental crowns and porcelain veneers.

If you live in Cumming, Norcross, or Athens, call 678.928.9320 to schedule a dental consultation. If you haven’t seen a dentist in a while, you will be interested to learn about the latest cosmetic dentistry techniques. Many procedures can be completed in one visit to our Gainesville dental office.

Give us a call at 678.928.9320 or find us on the Web at: http://www.WeberFamilyDental.com