DENTAL NEWS
The Journal of Periodontology recently reported that the conclusions of a pilot study done at the Case Western Reserve School of Dental Medicine which found that the less fat cells the human body has the better at fighting gum disease it becomes.
Nabil Bissada, chair of the department of periodontics at Case Western Reserve School of Dental Medicine and lead author of the study, suggests that this is because fat cells trigger inflammation of the gums. Inflammation that continues to brew in the body can have harmful effects over time, and inflammation from gum disease can erode bone and cause tooth loss. It can also cause breaks in the gums where harmful oral bacteria can enter the blood stream.
This study raises two hypotheses about why the surgery group improved. The first theory is that excessive fat cells (adipocytes) secrete more cytokines (such as TNF and IL-6), which make insulin more resistant to doing its function. As a result, more accumulation of sugar in the blood (hyperglycemia) occurs. Losing weight, therefore, makes insulin less resistant and improves the diabetic status which in turn helps in the response to periodontal treatment.
The other theory relates to the presence of the leptin hormone that regulates appetite. Leptin plays a role in regulating metabolism and has been linked to inflammation by increasing the production of cytokines and the -C-reactive protein, which is also linked to inflammation. Bissada said leptin production was reduced after bariatric surgery and may be one explanation for the better outcomes in the periodontal treatment.
ooooooooh. why does it always have to do with teeth???
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