Valentine's Day Teeth Whitening Special!

Don't forget to take advantage of our Valentine's Day teeth whitening special before the end of the month!

Causes of Tooth Decay

Happy Friday! Check out this great explanation of the causes of tooth decay through illustrations!

http://www.colgate.com/app/CP/US/EN/OC/Information/Articles/Oral-and-Dental-Health-Basics/Common-Concerns/Cavities-Tooth-Decay/article/Illustrations-How-A-Tooth-Decays.cvsp

High Rates of Gum Disease in Kidney Patients

According to researchers, individuals with kidney disease have more risk of periodontal disease due to lower levels of vitamin D than individuals with regular levels of vitamin D. Also, patients diagnosed with Periodontitis tended to have higher levels of Interleukin-6 (a marker of inflammation) than patients without Periodontitis.

Futhermore, they found patients with Periodontitis tended to have lower levels of Cathelicidin (an antimicrobial protein that serves as a natural antibiotic) compared to patients with healthy gums.

Vitamin D deficiency is associated with Chronic Periodontitis in patients with kidney disease not yet on dialysis. This association seems to be mediated through an impairment in clearing bacterial infection due to a decrease in Cathelicidin production.

An individual with kidney disease who has low vitamin D levels also have low Cathelicidin levels and this predisposes him/her to have Periodontitis as well as a higher level of severity of gum disease. This study reaches the conclusion that the lack of vitamin D can lead to periodontal problems. This is something worth giving further consideration and should be discussed with your healthcare team to be included in your treatment plan.

Read more at http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/NKF/38254

Official Dentist for Miss Texas 2013

Dr. Wolfson is proud to be the official dentist for the Miss Texas Pageant and wishes reigning Miss Texas 2013 Ivana Hall good luck as she heads for the Miss American Pageant on September 3, 2013!

Periodontal Disease Influencing Psoriasis

Holland, MI (I-Newswire) June 3, 2013 - From time to time, we may wonder if one disease in the body may cause another disease to crop up. It may seem strange how some seemingly unrelated diseases are linked, but as more and more research is done, we find those links exist. Psoriasis, an autoimmune disease has recently been reported to be linked to periodontal disease.

Psoriasis is a skin condition that, according to the National Psoriasis Foundation, 7.5 million Americans suffer from. When a person's immune system sends out faulty signals that increase the speed at which skin cells grown, the result is red, raised patches of skin covered with silvery dead skin cells. It is one of the most prevalent auto-immune diseases in the United States and up to 3% of the world's population has it. Unfortunately, 10-30% of those with psoriasis also develop psoriatic arthritis.

Psoriasis can be found on the face and scalp, genitals, skin folds, hands, feet and nails. Although 10% of the population has the gene for psoriasis, only about 3% actually gets it. Researchers have established "triggers" that they feel trip the gene. These include stress, injury to the skin, and some medications such as anti-malaria drugs, beta blockers, lithium and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Now there may even be another trigger: periodontal disease.

A five year study involving over 230,000 people recently published in the British Journal of Dermatology indicated that people with gum disease were 54% more likely to have psoriasis. Out of a data base, the researchers chose half the group with periodontal disease and the other half without. Then they looked at the collected data and identified who developed psoriasis over the next five years.

Although the study did have its limitations, it did not account for other factors that could have influenced psoriasis, it does question what the underlying cause of the disease is. It challenges the longstanding thinking about psoriasis.

Taking care of your teeth is an essential part of reducing the risks of these diseases. Brushing your teeth at least twice daily as well as receiving two professional dental cleaning per year will ensure that your mouth is clean. So call Dr. Wolfson's office today for regular dental cleanings and periodontal maintenance handled by the doctor and his team.

Visit Tanglewood Smiles or call (713) 789-1225 to set up an appointment today!

Dr. Wolfson is Official Dentist for Miss Texas

Dr. Steven Wolfson is now the official dentist for the Miss Texas Pageant, a scholarship pageant that empowers women to achieve their dreams and goals. He is excited to join the Miss Texas family and looks forward to supporting the young women of the pageant. 

Gum Disease linked to Pancreatic Cancer Risk

Pancreatic cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths and is estimated to kill 30,000 Americans per year. Now, according to a recent study done at Brown University, researchers believe that gum disease might help identify patients who have a greater risk of pancreatic cancer.

The article from the New York Times explains that researchers "found that higher levels of antibodies to P. Gingivalis, a bacterium that plays a role in gum disease, were twice as common in people with pancreatic cancer."

Really?: Gum Disease Tied to Pancreatic Cancer Risk 

The Facts: Pancreatic Cancer, a leading cause of cancer deaths, is elusive, with vague symptoms that often lead to late diagnosis. Because it is so lethal and hard to detect until its advanced stages, scientists have been looking for ways to spot it early. Now some researchers, including a team at Brown University, think gum disease may one day help identify people at greater risk.

Gum disease, which affects nearly half of all Americans, has been linked to stroke, diabetes and other ailments. The American Heart Association has disputed the notion that the association is causal, but some researchers speculate that poor gum health may give rise to chronic inflammation that promotes the growth of cancer cells.

In a recent study published in the journal Gut, the Brown researchers compared 405 people with pancreatic cancer and 416 who did not have the disease. The scientists found that higher levels of antibodies to P. gingivalis, a bacterium that plays a role in gum disease, were twice as common in people with pancreatic cancer.

To be sure, the research showed only an association, not a causal relationship. But other studies have also found intriguing results. One at Harvard found that men with poor gum health had a 63 percent higher risk of developing pancreatic cancer than men who did not have gum disease. And a New York University study found that high levels of P. gingivalis were linked to greater risk of dying of pancreatic and colorectal cancer, even in people without overt gum disease.

The Bottom Line: A few studies have suggested a possible link between gum disease and pancreatic cancer, though more research is needed.

Copyright 2013 The New York Times Company - NYTimes.com - 620 Eighth Ave New York, NY 10018 

Last year, another research team from Harvard found that "men with poor gum health had a 63 percent higher risk of developing pancreatic cancer than men who did not have gum disease."

Because patients seem to be increasingly interested in the health risks associated with gum disease, it might be helpful to seek gum disease treatment with Dr. Wolfson if you are at risk of pancreatic cancer.

Call to make an appointment today: 713-789-1225