Alzheimer's Disease and Gum Disease Research

Good oral hygiene is essential for a lifetime of good health. That’s what we’ve been telling our patients for years at the Miami offices of Drs. Ressler, Hirschl, and Lelchuk. Recently, new evidence has emerged of a connection between gum disease and another dangerous ailment: Alzheimer’s disease. It seems that preventing one may be the best way to prevent the other.

Porphyromonas gingivalis is one of the bacteria species that causes tooth decay. As a defense against white blood cells, it secretes cell-killing toxins called gingipains. Scientists studying the brain and spinal fluid of people with Alzheimer’s disease found that their tissue samples included unusually large amounts of gingipains, and that the number was larger the more severe the Alzheimer’s symptoms had been. They also found that gingipains trigger the formation of neural plaque in animal test subjects.

This past May, another study was published that establishes that P. gingivaliscan move from the mouth to the brain in living people. Scientists believe that there are other factors that contribute to a person’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, but that gum disease now appears to be a major one. We can help people suffering from periodontitis by providing them with deep cleanings and using specialized tools to measure gum disease’s progression. We also use powerful localized antibiotics to defeat P. gingivalis and its relatives.

Dr. Allen Ressler, Dr. Andrew Hirschl, and Dr. Ira Lelchuk operate from two locations. To schedule an appointment at the location at Mount Sinai Medical Center, 4300 Alton Road, Suite 1190, Miami Beach, Florida, 33140, call 305-532-1444. To schedule an appointment at Intracoastal Mall, 3909 NE 163^rdSt, Suite 310, North Miami Beach, Florida, 33160, call 305-949-2630. They can also be reached on their website, Miami Dental through a contact form.

Asthma and Oral Health

The dentists of Drs. Ressler, Hirschl, and Lelchuk’s Miami practice are a vital part of each patient’s medical care team. People with asthma face some particular oral health challenges, and to help them practice preventive care, we want them to understand why they may be especially at risk for developing cavities.

Dry mouth, also known as xerostomia, is a major contributor to enamel imperfections. We depend on saliva to wash away food debris and to keep our mouths at a pH level that allows enamel to remineralize. But people with asthma easily develop dry mouth because they are likelier to breathe through their mouths and it is also a common side-effect of some asthma medications. Patients should consult with their asthma specialist before changing medications, but they can counter dry mouth by drinking more water, using throat moisturizers, chewing sugar-free gum, and by using humidifiers.

Other factors specifically impacting asthma patients are acid reflux and the sugar content of medications. Because asthma causes restrictions in the throat, some patients are prescribed muscles relaxants. These relaxants risk opening the sphincter that separates the stomach from the esophagus, allowing stomach acid into the mouth, where it erodes enamel. Some oral medications may also contain lactose. Patients who are conscious of this may use fluoridated mouth rinse after taking medications and avoid foods that exacerbate acid reflux, such as onions, red meat, and caffeine. Chewing sugar-free gum to increase saliva flow can also help neutralize acid.

Dr. Allen Ressler, Dr. Andrew Hirschl, and Dr. Ira Lelchuk operate from two locations. To schedule an appointment at the location at Mount Sinai Medical Center, 4300 Alton Road, Suite 1190, Miami Beach, Florida, 33140, call 305-532-1444. To schedule an appointment at Intracoastal Mall, 3909 NE 163^rdSt, Suite 310, North Miami Beach, Florida, 33160, call 305-949-2630. They can also be reached on their website, Miami Dental through a contact form.

Causes of Bad Breath

If you frequently have bad breath, there may be a bigger issue at play than smelly food. We at the Miami Beach dental offices of Drs. Ressler, Hirschl, and Lelchuk are attentive to our patients’ oral pathologies and contributing conditions. Bad breath, also known as halitosis, is often related to dry mouth and gum disease.

As oral bacteria produce acid, they give off a bad smell. Brushing and flossing teeth is essential to depriving bacteria of food, but they may still find a home in the papillae of the tongue. There, they consume food particles as well as nasal drip that can land on the tongue when the patient has a cold or nasal blockage. As part of their daily hygiene routine, we recommend that patients brush their tongue, clean it with a scraper, and use antibacterial mouthwash.

Adequate saliva is necessary for clearing the mouth of food debris and preventing the spread of bacteria and fungus. A lack of saliva can result in bacterial growth and bad breath. Patients should inquire with their doctors about changing medications that can cause dry mouth or getting tested for related rheumatic diseases. Halitosis is also associated with diabetes due to chemicals diabetic people’s bodies produce as they break down fat and diabetes’s suppression of the immune system. Acid reflux can also cause halitosis due to stomach acid burning the esophagus and entering the oral cavity. Bad breath can be combatted by drinking lots of water, but patients with chronic health conditions should make sure they’re aware of whether halitosis means they need to consult their physician.

Dr. Allen Ressler, Dr. Andrew Hirschl, and Dr. Ira Lelchuk operate from two locations. To schedule an appointment at the location at Mount Sinai Medical Center, 4300 Alton Road, Suite 1190, Miami Beach, Florida, 33140, call 305-532-1444. To schedule an appointment at Intracoastal Mall, 3909 NE 163^rdSt, Suite 310, North Miami Beach, Florida, 33160, call 305-949-2630. They can also be reached on their website, Miami Dental through a contact form.

 

National Diabetes Awareness Month

Since November is National Diabetes Awareness Month, this seems like a good time to remind our patients of the relationship between diabetes and gum disease. We understand that people face different oral health challenges, and at the Miami Beach dental offices of Drs. Ressler, Hirschl, and Lelchuk, we strive to treat people struggling with gum disease with respect. If a patient frequently struggles with gingival bleeding, uncontrolled blood sugar could be the culprit.

Inflammation is the body’s attempt to isolate diseased tissues. Inflamed gums are often caused by infections in the gum pockets. If the infections become bad enough, the structures holding teeth in place will erode, leaving them vulnerable to falling out. People with diabetes have higher than average rates of periodontal disease. One of the effects of high blood sugar is decreased effectiveness of the immune system, making it more difficult for the body to defeat gum pocket infections. But the effect also goes in the other direction; infections make it more difficult for the body to regulate blood sugar, putting the patient at greater risk for other diabetes complications.

People with diabetes need to be especially vigilant about their oral hygiene to prevent gum pocket infections from developing. But even people who brush and floss regularly need to maintain regular oral hygiene appointments so that we can clean away calculus. There is also good news for diabetic patients. When people receive treatment for gum inflammation, their other diabetes symptoms show improvement.

Dr. Allen Ressler, Dr. Andrew Hirschl, and Dr. Ira Lelchuk operate from two locations. To schedule an appointment at the location at Mount Sinai Medical Center, 4300 Alton Road, Suite 1190, Miami Beach, Florida, 33140, call 305-532-1444. To schedule an appointment at Intracoastal Mall, 3909 NE 163^rdSt, Suite 310, North Miami Beach, Florida, 33160, call 305-949-2630. They can also be reached on their website, Miami Dental through a contact form.

 

Rheumatoid Arthritis and Bleeding Gums

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) wreaks havoc on a person’s body, and unfortunately, the gums are not spared. Severe periodontal disease threatens the stability of a person’s teeth, which is part of the reason why the dentists of Ressler, Hirschl, and Lelchuk want our patients to understand why people with RA need to be especially careful about their oral hygiene.

Unlike some other forms of arthritis which are caused by wearin down of cartilage over a lifetime, RA is an autoimmune disorder. That means the body’s immune system has turned against its own tissues, resulting in inflammation. Studies by Johns Hopkins have found that most people with RA have gum disease, and six times as many people with RA have severe gum disease as in the general population. Gum disease was also common in people whose RA was in its early stages, suggesting the inflammation was not just due to difficulty brushing.

Scientists are currently examining whether better oral care can reduce RA symptoms. Regardless, the evidence shows that regular brushing and flossing do help people with RA to fight gum disease. For those with difficulty holding a manual toothbrush, an electric alternative may be preferable. Throat moisteners can also help people suffering from dry mouth as a side effect of RA medication.

Dr. Allen Ressler, Dr. Andrew Hirschl, and Dr. Ira Lelchuk operate from two locations. To schedule an appointment at the location at Mount Sinai Medical Center, 4300 Alton Road, Suite 1190, Miami Beach, Florida, 33140, call 305-532-1444. To schedule an appointment at Intracoastal Mall, 3909 NE 163^rdSt, Suite 310, North Miami Beach, Florida, 33160, call 305-949-2630. They can also be reached on their website, Miami Dental through a contact form.