Periodontics
Diabetes and periodontal (gum) disease
Diabetes and periodontal disease are chronic inflammatory conditions. Research suggests that there is a two-way relationship between these conditions: Periodontal disease is often considered as the sixth complication of diabetes mellitus (Löe, 1993). Evidence has shown that patients with diabetes mellitus (especially those with poor glycaemic control) are more likely to have periodontal disease than…...
Brushing twice a day keeps heart disease away
Chronic infections of the tooth-supporting tissues (periodontal disease) can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Periodontal disease elevates the inflammatory status of the body and this increases the individual’s risk of cardiovascular disease, such as atherosclerosis. The recent Scottish Health Survey concluded that individuals with poor tooth brushing techniques have a raised level of inflammation…...
Smoking
Despite all the extensive health campaigns and warnings, at least one in five adults in Australia still smoke. Smoking is a leading cause of death and disease, and about 50% of smokers will die prematurely of a disease caused by smoking (Doll et al., 2004). In addition to the increased mortality rate, smoking affects nearly…...
The mouth is the window to the body
If the eyes are the window to the soul, then the mouth is the window to the body. More than 90% of all systemic diseases have some form of clinical presentation in the mouth (Academy of General Dentistry). Not only does the mouth play many important physiologic roles (digestion, respiration and speech), it also holds…...