How Cavity-Causing Microbes Affect Heart

Not long ago, scientists unveiled that a bacteria often found in our mouths, is the same bacteria that often invades heart tissue.  It may cause a dangerous and even lethal infection of the heart, such an infection is called, "endocarditis."  The study claims that there is now a possibility to create a screening tool "to gauge a dental patients vulnerability to the condition."

It's a well-known fact that S. mutans is a bacterium that causes cavities.  Normally, S. mutans limits its harm to the mouth, it is possible however, for the bacteria to enter the bloodstream, particularly after a dental procedure.  Actually, the immune system destroys them, but sometimes, within a short period of time, they travel to the heart and colonize its tissue.  It's important to note that this bacteria can lead to endocarditis, which can be deadly.

Dentists Can Identify People with Undiagnosed Diabetes

According to a recent study performed by researchers at Columbia University College of Dental Medicine, "dental visits represented a chance to intervene in the diabetes epidemic by identifying individuals with diabetes or pre-diabetes who are unaware of their condition."

From the nearly 600 individuals who were recruited for the study, half of the group was non-Hispanic, white 40-years-old or older; the other half were Hispanic, or non-white, 30-years-old or older.  None of them had been ever told that they have diabetes or pre-diabetes.

Periodontal Disease and Heart-related Risks

A large Korean study that involved more than 7,000 adults unveiled that periodontal disease is linked with a metabolic syndrome.  These conditions put people at risk for diabetes, heart disease as well as other health problems.

The Korean researchers used information from the fourth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

People are diagnosed with a metabolic syndrome if they have three or more of the following:

Study Says: Keeping Healthy Can Lower Dementia Risk

When it comes to the risk of developing Alzheimer's or another type of dementia, researchers say that not maintaining your general health may contribute to development of these types of brain disorders.

"Our study suggests that rather than just paying attention to already known risk factors for dementia, such as diabetes or heart disease, keeping up with your general health may help reduce the risk for dementia," stated principal investigator Dr. Kenneth Rockwood, director of geriatric medicine research, in Dalhousie University.

Dentists Don't Give Preference to Children on Medicaid

According to recent research performed by Joanna Bisgaier, MSW, from the Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, and her team; dentists avoid giving appointments to children in the combined Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program.

A team of researchers from the Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, aimed to check out the affect of insurance status on dentists' sharpness to allot an appointment for young people.