HHS HealthBeat (October 10, 2008)

Good gums, good health

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

Gum disease is far from uncommon in much of Appalachia, and a researcher at the West Virginia University School of Dentistry has some numbers to indicate how bad it is.

Richard Crout’s check of 445 families in West Virginia and Pennsylvania found 80 percent of adults had severe forms of gum disease.

Gum disease can lead to tooth loss, and West Virginia leads the nation in people who have lost all their teeth. But infected gums also are linked to other problems, such as heart disease.

Crout’s recommendation:

``Now is the time to visit your dentist regularly, brush at least twice a day, and floss at least once a day.’’ (7 seconds)

Crout’s study, which was supported by the National Institutes of Health, was presented at a meeting of the American Academy of Periodontology.

Learn more at hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: October, 10 2008