Tag Archive for: dental health

New Research Yields One More Factor

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The last recommendation for you in living every day you’re alive involves keeping the body working its best through regular maintenance. That means seeing your healthcare professionals on schedule. Here are some examples of what that can mean.

Researchers recently published a paper on the impact of a narrow band of ultraviolet light on the microbiome. If people were deficient in vitamin D, their microbiome was not as healthy as those who had normal vitamin D levels. The UV light did not improve the microbiome of those who had normal vitamin D levels, only those who did not. That’s why you need to get your bloodwork done regularly, including getting your vitamin D levels checked. Whether by sun or supplement, vitamin D is critical to your microbiome and many other aspects of your health.

A couple of years ago my glasses were broken and I needed a new prescription, so I finally had my eyes examined. It had been at least five years since my last exam. Turns out I have glaucoma; by using a couple of drops a day, I haven’t lost any vision. But if I hadn’t had my eyes checked, who knows what could have happened?

One more. It seemed like I kept getting shorter and shorter every time I had a checkup, so I had a bone density test done. Turns out I have osteopenia. Long-time runners like me aren’t supposed to get that, but there it is. I changed my supplements and I’ll get checked again this year.

I’ve often talked about the importance of protecting your dental health. Yes, teeth can be replaced, but it’s really expensive as Paula and I know from experience. While a dental checkup may seem like lot of money, it’s worth it to protect not only your teeth, but many other aspects of your health such as heart and digestive health.

Today’s lesson is get your body checked on a regular basis. We don’t ignore our hearts (for the most part) but the ability to see, to hear, to have strong bones, even to chew food is dependent on taking care of those specialty organs on a regular basis.

What are you prepared to do today?

        Dr. Chet

Reference: Front. Microbiol., 24 October 2019 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2019.02410.

Men, Their Microbiome, and Infertility

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What role does a man’s microbiome play in infertility? Maybe a lot more than we thought. There are many more factors that affect fertility, with more studies published every day, but this week’s posts have focused on the microbiome. We’ll finish with a study on men.

Researchers examined the sperm of men who contributed semen to an in-vitro fertilization clinic before IVF with their partners. They wanted to determine whether there was a relationship between periodontal disease and sperm quantity and motility—how many sperm and how well those sperm moved. They found that men with periodontal disease had low sperm counts and the sperm were not as active. Those two problems can contribute to infertility.

Just as with women who have periodontal disease, the pathogenic bacteria appear to have an affect on fertility. The same type of treatment for periodontal disease may help fertility issues for both partners. But let me be clear: the microbiome is only one aspect of fertility; there are other issues that contribute to infertility that may also need to be addressed.

What are you prepared to do today?

Dr. Chet

 

Reference: J Clin Periodontol. 2011 Jun;38(6):542-6.

 

Your Oral Microbiome and Infertility

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Is there a relationship between the health of your teeth and your ability to conceive? Yes, and in today’s message, I’ll give you the latest research to come to that conclusion. This week’s messages provide insight into some of the health issues surrounding infertility. It’s also a kick-off of the second edition of my Healthy Babies CD and download.

In a review article, researchers examined the literature that was related to periodontal disease and women’s health. The examined systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and narrative reviews to evaluate all possible associations between periodontitis, systemic diseases, and women. The strongest association they found in the published literature was between infertility and periodontal disease, a growth in pathogenic bacteria in the gums surrounding the teeth. With open access to the bloodstream, these bacteria can affect many disease conditions such as heart disease. They can also contribute to infertility. And let’s be realistic: carrying a baby is a health challenge. You don’t need any rogue bacteria attacking your mouth or the rest of your body.

In this case, the solution for periodontal disease is simple: treat the periodontal disease and begin good oral hygiene including flossing, regular brushing, and regular dental check-ups. That will contribute to a healthy oral microbiome. There may still be other factors related to infertility that should be addressed, but you’ll have ruled out one possible obstacle as well as doing something great for your overall health.

What are you prepared to do today?

Dr. Chet

 

Reference: Curr Med Res Opin. 2017. Mar 24:1-11.

 

Schedule Your Dental Exam

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While your physician may examine your tonsils and tongue when you have your physical, that doesn’t include your teeth. For that, you need to see a dentist. Asking people to visit a dentist is right up there with the fear of public speaking—so many people just hate it. We’ve got a great dental team that takes care of our teeth and they do everything they can to make the visit a pleasure, so Paula and I don’t mind going. Find a dentist that works with you, and the only way to do that is by trial . . .

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Flossing Follow-up

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I’ve written the memo for over 16 years and for the past 10 years, it’s been about health, but I never know what kind of response I’m going to get about what I write. Flossing and “dangerous supplement ingredients” really brought out some great questions. I’ll cover them in the next two messages.

Today, flossing. Many readers and listeners thanked me for addressing the issue and challenging the AP report. We think of teeth as being shaped like a blade, but most are closer to square at the gumline. That’s a lot of surface area . . .

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The Bottom Line on Flossing

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Let’s take a closer look at the AP article that questioned the use of flossing for dental health (1). Based on the science to date, it appears there isn’t enough research for the government to recommend that everyone floss daily. Is there no research to support flossing? More important, does flossing contribute to dental health?

A dentist wrote an opinion piece for The Huffington Post blog (2); he addressed the AP article very well by taking a second look at an article the AP used as part of their claim for a lack of support for flossing. In . . .

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The Science of Flossing

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After reading the AP article on flossing, I did what I normally do: I checked the research (1). I specifically looked for research on flossing and periodontal disease, but there wasn’t much. Then I checked the research that the AP investigative journalist used; again the research wasn’t overwhelming and most studies weren’t really positive. If you check out the AP article, the references are listed at the bottom.

The AP article interviewed several experts in the field; most agreed that research as we know it today hasn’t been done to support the use of flossing for . . .

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To Floss or Not to Floss

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There are several health truths that I hold dear. Everyone needs to exercise. We all need to eat more vegetables. We should floss our teeth every day.

Not everyone agrees. There have been books and articles written about why exercise doesn’t prevent heart disease nor help you lose weight. Some diets want you to avoid certain types of plant materials. But I thought flossing was safe from controversy.

Until now.

Writers from the Associated Press Investigative team decided to question the recommendation for flossing from the Department of Health and Human Services and the USDA Guidelines. Using the Freedom . . .

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