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Researchers are reporting that the bacterium Porphyromonas gingivalis, the cause of the most serious form of gum disease, "can travel throughout the body, exuding toxins connected with Alzheimer's disease, rheumatoid arthritis and aspiration pneumonia."
While previous researchers have noted the presence of P. gingivalis in brain samples from Alzheimer's patients, [new research from the team of Jan Potempa, PhD, DSc, a professor at the University of Louisville School of Dentistry and head of the department of microbiology at Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland], in collaboration with Cortexyme, Inc., offers the strongest evidence to date that the bacterium may actually contribute to the development of Alzheimer's disease. Potempa will present the research at the American Association of Anatomists annual meeting during the 2019 Experimental Biology meeting, held April 6-9 in Orlando, Fla.
The research confirmed higher incidence of the bacteria in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease vs. those without, and also showed in mice studies that P. gingivalis can migrate from the mouth to the brain. Potential blocking pathways are already being studied to prevent this.
P. gingivalis commonly begins to infiltrate the gums during the teenage years. About one in five people under age 30 have low levels of the bacterium in their gums. While it is not harmful in most people, if it grows to large numbers the bacteria provoke the body's immune system to create inflammation, leading to redness, swelling, bleeding and the erosion of gum tissue.
The bacterium is also implicated in other ailments such as autoimmune disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and aspiration pneumonia.
General dental hygiene is the best approach to prevent the bacteria from growing out of control. You know the drill - Brush, floss, and see your dentist regularly.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by ledow on Monday April 08 2019, @09:18AM (5 children)
Except, there is no conclusive, world-wide, accepted consensus that flossing actually does anything.
And if it's done improperly it can actually cause harm and put bacteria *into* the bloodstream.
Sure, it helps to remove food clumps in the teeth, but so does brushing. Beyond there's little to suggest that it actually does anything different from brushing at all.
(Score: 2) by sonamchauhan on Monday April 08 2019, @10:35AM (1 child)
No, brushing does not remove food particles in tooth crevices. Speaking from personal experience :-D
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday April 08 2019, @12:34PM
That stuff gets removed by dissolving in your spit. On a related note, I got a water-pic and was really surprised how much junk brushing could leave behind.
(Score: 2) by bobthecimmerian on Monday April 08 2019, @04:42PM
When I floss once a day consistently, my dental cleanings are much shorter and involve a lot less blood. When I only brush, no matter how well I do it my cleanings pull a lot of gunk out and are somewhat painful.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Monday April 08 2019, @04:45PM (1 child)
[citation needed]
[citation needed]
[citation needed]
Who the hell modded this up as "Insightful"?
(Score: 2) by ledow on Monday April 08 2019, @06:59PM
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1601-5037.2008.00336.x [wiley.com]
"In light of the results of this comprehensive literature search and critical analysis, it is concluded that a routine instruction to use floss is not supported by scientific evidence."
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Monday April 08 2019, @12:25PM (4 children)
We ignored it because it was more of a nuisance than threat but now it is a health threat.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday April 08 2019, @12:41PM (2 children)
Yep, a couple idiots run their NHST procedure and discover that p really is less than 0.05. Time to freak out.
(Score: 2) by Azuma Hazuki on Tuesday April 09 2019, @01:04AM (1 child)
Why do you have this permanent knot in your jockstrap about null-hypothesis testing? Did a regression curve eat your cat or something?
I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday April 09 2019, @02:03AM
Because I wasted the prime of my life torturing rats due to it...
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday April 08 2019, @04:34PM
Dental bacteria that makes you forget to brush. Priceless.
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Monday April 08 2019, @12:33PM
great grand mom, bless her soul, born pre 1900 had all her teeth pulled when 20 because it was cheaper to get fake teeth that slept in a glass of water over night then potential ~50 years of dentist bills.
the old crow nearly lived to a hundred and was pointy as a tack to the end.
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Monday April 08 2019, @05:40PM
"and see your dentist regularly. "
yeah, right. what kind of idiot goes to a dentist past youth? just brush your teeth and gargle, ffs.