dysbiosis
Reducing vulnerabilities in long-term care
Ontario has struck a commission on long-term care. The UK government did the same before the pandemic. No doubt, there will be other investigations given the terrible clustering of the pandemic in these venues. COVID-19 showed what we already knew — in the words of the Ontario government, “the system is broken”. So if you…
Read MoreOne slide says it all
“Increasing evidence has shown that the oral microbiota is closely related to the physical state of humans, such as diabetes, obesity, and cancer. In the future, oral microbiota will become a new target for improving the physical state of humans“. Lu, M et al. 2019. Science Direct. So what does this mean? Have a look…
Read MoreTele-dentistry
Over one week during this pandemic, physicians turned to tele-medicine to keep their practices going. By contrast, dental practices just shut down. Is there a viable approach to tele-dentistry when in fact, the modus operandi of dental care is both visual and tactile? For example, how would a hygienist conduct the procedure “bleeding on probing”…
Read MoreStroke & oral health
Since 2016, we have known that a type of oral bacteria, Streptococcus mutans, is directly linked to cerebral micro-bleeds, a precursor to a stroke.
Read MoreOral inflammatory load and dementia care
A new article on managing dementia suggests there is a pyramid of needs for this progressive disease (see the chart).
Read MoreDental decay — an important inflammation
A recent study reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association concluded that “oral infections in childhood appear to be associated with the sub-clinical carotid atherosclerosis seen in adulthood.” The data are compelling. The presence of any sign of oral infection in childhood was associated with increased atherosclerosis by almost twofold, independent of normal…
Read MoreOral dysbiosis and COPD
Julie DiNardo, RDH (Hamilton, ON) reports a patient with long-term respiratory disease has recently improved lung function. the patient’s respirologist and the patient are unsure why the improvement. So the patient asked Julie if it has anything to do with Prevora, an antiseptic which she has been receiving in Julie’s practice for the past 5 years.
Read MoreTo improve health disparities, focus on oral health
That’s the recommendation on a new blog from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. How so? well, here’s an argument.
Let’s begin by recognizing chronic diseases such as diabetes and COPD have a much higher prevalence in poorer communities than rich ones. For example, about 4 in 100 adults in Rosedale (high income) in Toronto have diabetes, whereas, 3 kilometers away in St. Jamestown (low income), 12 in 100 are diabetic.
Managing Oral Inflammation – What Gives?
Periodontal (gum) disease is one of the most common chronic diseases – it affects 7 in 10 adults. Severe gum disease, as indicated by extensive and repetitive inflammation/bleeding and even teeth which wobble, is experienced by 1 in 10 adults. Gum disease is now considered to have a bidirectional relationship with Type 2 diabetes and…
Read More