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Americans Ignore Teeth and Gums at Their Peril

Poor children at highest risk, surgeon general says

by Edward Edelson - May 25 (HealthSCOUT) -- The mouth is the gateway to the body's health, and too many Americans aren't paying enough attention to their teeth and the tissues around them, says a new report from the Department of Health and Human Services.

"Those who suffer the worst oral health include poor Americans, especially children and the elderly," Dr. David Satcher, the U.S. surgeon general, said today at a press conference in Washington, D.C. "Members of racial and ethnic groups also experience a disproportionate level of oral health problems. And those with disabilities and complex health conditions are at greater risk for oral diseases that, in turn, further complicate their health."

While the first Surgeon General's Report on Oral Health in America devoted a lot of its 308 pages to Americans who can't afford good dental care, Dr. Jack Caton, professor of dentistry at the University of Rochester, N.Y., and president of the American Academy of Periodontology, worries about the average middle-class American who thinks a routine swipe at the teeth every day is good enough.

"The mouth is an integral part of the body, and its health affects organ systems in every other part of the body," Caton says. "An unhealthy mouth is seeding the body with bacteria and also affects enzymes that the body makes to fight infection. It has an effect on atherosclerotic plaque, on glucose tolerance and other essential functions. For pregnant women, it can increase the risk of having an underweight baby."

By Caton's estimate, periodontal infections can be found in 60 percent of Americans. In the early stages there are no symptoms, he says, but then "you might get inflammation in the gum tissue and bleeding when you brush or floss, and the gums can recede."

We talk about older people being "long in the tooth" not because teeth are growing but because the gums around them are being diminished by periodontal disease, Caton says: "It happens so gradually and without pain that people think it is just part of life."

Bad dental health strikes poor hard

If that can happen in people who dutifully see the dentist regularly, the situation is much worse for those who don't, says the surgeon general's report. Half of all children ages 5 to 9 have at least one cavity. That increases to 78 percent for 17-year-olds, the report says, adding, "Poor children suffer twice as much dental caries as their more affluent peers, and their disease is more likely to be untreated."

A quarter of all American children haven't seen a dentist before they enter kindergarten, and 108 million Americans of all ages don't have dental insurance, the report says. More than 51 million school-hours are lost to dental-related illness each year, and poor children suffer 12 times as many days of restricted activity than those from higher-income families, it says.

The difference persists into adulthood, the report says. Fewer than two-thirds of adults report seeing a dentist in the past year, and those with incomes below the poverty level have half the visits of those with higher incomes.

As for older people, about 30 percent of Americans 65 and older have lost all their teeth, with the expected higher percentage among the poor. But that is an improvement from the 46 percent toothless rate reported 20 years ago, because of measures such as fluoridation, the report says. Even so, 23 percent of Americans age 65 to 74 have severe periodontal disease, with the incidence higher in men than women.

Periodontal disease means more than just bad breath and cavities, Caton says. "We're talking about periodontal disease as a risk factor that is as strong as smoking for cardiovascular disease," he says.

The recommendations for good oral health haven't changed much over the decades, Caton says. People generally know that they should see a dentist to have their teeth cleaned twice a year and should brush twice a day. What most people don't do, he says, is to clean between the teeth once a day, using either a toothpick or dental floss.

What is new is research linking oral health with total health, says Dr. Marjorie Jeffcoat, Rosen professor and chair of periodontics at the University of Alabama School of Dentistry and a spokeswoman for the American Dental Association.

"We're just beginning to have data to show that if you have poor oral health, you will not have good systemic health," she says.

Anyone who sees a dentist should come away with a personalized preventive plan, Jeffcoat says. "For example, if you have arthritis in your fingers and can't handle floss, there are small brushes that you can use between the teeth," she says. "Prevention is the key."

What To Do

Brush twice a day, floss every day, see the dentist twice a year, and watch out for the signs of periodontal disease.

The American Academy of Periodontology has more on the connection between oral health and overall health. Try the American Dental Association for information on your teeth, including prevention, care for kids' and seniors' teeth, and insurance. If you're interested in a summary of the report, pay a visit to the Surgeon General of the United States.

SOURCES: Interviews with Jack Caton, D.D.S., president, American Academy of Periodontology and professor of dentistry, University of Rochester, N.Y., and Marjorie Jeffcoat, D.D.S., spokeswoman, American Dental Association, and chair of periodontics, University of Alabama School of Dentistry, Birmingham; Surgeon General's Report on Oral Health in America; Department of Health and Human Services news release.

	26 Dec 08 - SpicaBooks.Com/Health_Dental.html - Health
	Americans Ignore Teeth and Gums at Their Peril Poor children at highest risk, surgeon general says by Edward Edelson - May 25 (HealthSCOUT) -- The mouth is the gateway to the body's health, and too many Americans aren't paying enough attention to their teeth and the tissues around them, says a new report from the Department of Health and Human Services. "Those who suffer the worst oral health include poor Americans, especially children and the elderly," Dr. David Satcher, the U.S. surgeon general, said today at a press conference in Washington, D.C. "Members of racial and ethnic groups also experience a disproportionate level of oral health problems. And those with disabilities and complex health conditions are at greater risk for oral diseases that, in turn, further complicate their health." While the first Surgeon General's Report on Oral Health in America devoted a lot of its 308 pages to Americans who can't afford good dental care, Dr. Jack Caton, professor of dentistry at the University of Rochester, N.Y., and president of the American Academy of Periodontology, worries about the average middle-class American who thinks a routine swipe at the teeth every day is good enough. "The mouth is an integral part of the body, and its health affects organ systems in every other part of the body," Caton says. "An unhealthy mouth is seeding the body with bacteria and also affects enzymes that the body makes to fight infection. It has an effect on atherosclerotic plaque, on glucose tolerance and other essential functions. For pregnant women, it can increase the risk of having an underweight baby." By Caton's estimate, periodontal infections can be found in 60 percent of Americans. In the early stages there are no symptoms, he says, but then "you might get inflammation in the gum tissue and bleeding when you brush or floss, and the gums can recede." We talk about older people being "long in the tooth" not because teeth are growing but because the gums around them are being diminished by periodontal disease, Caton says: "It happens so gradually and without pain that people think it is just part of life." *Bad dental health strikes poor hard* If that can happen in people who dutifully see the dentist regularly, the situation is much worse for those who don't, says the surgeon general's report. Half of all children ages 5 to 9 have at least one cavity. That increases to 78 percent for 17-year-olds, the report says, adding, "Poor children suffer twice as much dental caries as their more affluent peers, and their disease is more likely to be untreated." A quarter of all American children haven't seen a dentist before they enter kindergarten, and 108 million Americans of all ages don't have dental insurance, the report says. More than 51 million school-hours are lost to dental-related illness each year, and poor children suffer 12 times as many days of restricted activity than those from higher-income families, it says. The difference persists into adulthood, the report says. Fewer than two-thirds of adults report seeing a dentist in the past year, and those with incomes below the poverty level have half the visits of those with higher incomes. As for older people, about 30 percent of Americans 65 and older have lost all their teeth, with the expected higher percentage among the poor. But that is an improvement from the 46 percent toothless rate reported 20 years ago, because of measures such as fluoridation, the report says. Even so, 23 percent of Americans age 65 to 74 have severe periodontal disease, with the incidence higher in men than women. Periodontal disease means more than just bad breath and cavities, Caton says. "We're talking about periodontal disease as a risk factor that is as strong as smoking for cardiovascular disease," he says. The recommendations for good oral health haven't changed much over the decades, Caton says. People generally know that they should see a dentist to have their teeth cleaned twice a year and should brush twice a day. What most people don't do, he says, is to clean between the teeth once a day, using either a toothpick or dental floss. What is new is research linking oral health with total health, says Dr. Marjorie Jeffcoat, Rosen professor and chair of periodontics at the University of Alabama School of Dentistry and a spokeswoman for the American Dental Association. "We're just beginning to have data to show that if you have poor oral health, you will not have good systemic health," she says. Anyone who sees a dentist should come away with a personalized preventive plan, Jeffcoat says. "For example, if you have arthritis in your fingers and can't handle floss, there are small brushes that you can use between the teeth," she says. "Prevention is the key." *What To Do* Brush twice a day, floss every day, see the dentist twice a year, and watch out for the signs of periodontal disease. The American Academy of Periodontology has more on the connection between oral health and overall health. Try the American Dental Association for information on your teeth, including prevention, care for kids' and seniors' teeth, and insurance. If you're interested in a summary of the report, pay a visit to the Surgeon General of the United States. SOURCES: Interviews with Jack Caton, D.D.S., president, American Academy of Periodontology and professor of dentistry, University of Rochester, N.Y., and Marjorie Jeffcoat, D.D.S., spokeswoman, American Dental Association, and chair of periodontics, University of Alabama School of Dentistry, Birmingham; Surgeon General's Report on Oral Health in America; Department of Health and Human Services news release.
	*Study Says Black Tea Helps Prevent Cavities* by Susan Heavey, 22 May 2001 WASHINGTON (Reuters) - You won't find it served at your dentist's office just yet, but drinking black tea between meals may help reduce cavities and plaque, researchers said on Tuesday. New studies, funded by the Tea Trade Health Research Association, found several doses of black tea every day not only reduced plaque build-up but also helped control bacteria. "We found that the black tea infusion can inhibit or suppress the growth of bacteria that promotes cavities and affect their ability to attach to tooth surfaces," Christine Wu, professor of periodontics at the University of Illinois and lead researcher on one part of the study. Wu said that while earlier studies in Japan have shown the cavity-fighting benefits of green tea, known for its rich antioxidants, her team chose to focus on black tea, which is more popular in western culture. The research is part of a collaborative study done in conjunction with the College of Dentistry at the University of Iowa and the Institute of Odontology at Goeteborg University in Sweden. The findings were presented at a meeting of the American Society for Microbiology in Orlando, Florida. 300 SPECIES OF BACTERIA Dental plaque contains more than 300 species of bacteria that adhere to tooth surfaces and produce cavity-causing acid. Plaque is also a leading cause of gum disease. A specific element of black tea, called polyphenols, killed or suppressed cavity-causing bacteria from either growing or producing acid, according to Wu's study. The tea also affected the bacterial enzymes and prevented the formation of the sticky-like material that binds plaque to teeth. Participants in the study rinsed with tea for 30 seconds, five times, waiting three minutes between each rinse. "We were trying to simulate what people did while sipping tea," Wu said. A similar study by Goeteborg University, where participants rinsed with tea for one minute 10 times per day, showed comparable results. Both studies showed that the more people rinsed, the more their plaque and bacteria levels fell. In the University of Iowa study, researchers looked at the impact of black tea's fluoride content on preventing cavities but found the benefits less clear. They exposed pre-cavity lesions to black tea but saw little change, suggesting that tea's cavity-fighting ability stems from a complicated reaction between it and bacteria. FLOURIDE NOT A FACTOR? "We had very little results, which implies that if tea is having a result in normal use it's not from fluoride," said James Wefel, professor and director of the Dows Institute of Dental Research at the University of Iowa. Of course, to help prevent cavities the tea must truly be "black," without sugar, milk, honey or other additives. Researchers also stressed drinking black tea should not replace traditional oral hygiene. "Tea will affect the plaque formation but one has to brush their teeth to remove the plaque," Wu said. "It's a must." And while black tea may fight cavities, it does not combat tooth stains. "It is going to stain (people's) teeth, but at least we know it's good for oral health," Wu said.
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