The Oral-Systemic Connection to Alzheimer's Poor oral hygiene and the neglect of oral health care are associated with an increased risk for myriad health problems, including heart disease, diabetes, cancer, rheumatoid arthritis and early death. Emerging evidence suggests that oral disease can affect what goes on in our brain - and may even potentially affect our risk for cognitive decline, dementia... read more »

Published in The Academy of Periodontology Over the last ten years, I have seen a dramatic increase in the number of patients with auto-immune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, Lupus, MS, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and Crohn's disease. They are all inflammatory-driven disorders. After twenty-five years of medical research, it is now clear that gum disease is an inflammatory disorder that spreads... read more »

Pungent foods and strongly scented beverages can sometimes cause acute bad breath, which can often be alleviated by brushing and flossing your teeth. A quick rinse with antiseptic mouthwash could also prove helpful for controlling temporary oral odors. At the same time chronic bad breath should not be dismissed. In many cases it is often an early indicator of a... read more »

Have you ever heard of oral biofilm? Oral biofilm forms when bacteria in your mouth adhere to your teeth and gums. Oral biofilm consists of a "slime" byproduct, the bacteria, and numerous forms of bacterial microbes which form a sort of barrier to help protect the bacteria against antibiotics and chemicals. One of the most common forms of oral biofilm... read more »