Bad eyesight? Back Hurts? Your mouth may be to blame.

Italian researchers reviewed studies that show a relationship between the health of the mouth and the health of the eyes. The mouth and eyes share a complex nerve pathway that runs through the head and neck. This nerve connection is a main reason for the relationships they found.

The studies revealed a strong correlation between Class II malocclusion, known as overbite, and myopia, near-sightedness. People with this dental condition were more likely to be nearsighted than people with other types of crooked teeth or people with straight teeth. Astigmatism (overall blurry vision) was also found to be associated with crossbite - teeth that don't fit together properly when the mouth is closed.

Research also showed that the pupils of people with jaw pain, like that caused by TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint) disorder, react differently to light than people without jaw pain. People with TMJ disorder were more likely to have poor posture and back problems, too. This is because the alignment of the jaw and muscles affects gaze and line of sight which can affect how people stand. Dry eye was also associated with TMJ difficulties.

So, in the future don't too surprised if your dentist asks you about your eyes and your eye doctor asks you about your teeth!

(The research review article was published in The Open Dental Journal, Volume 10, 2016, Oct. 31. Open Dent J. 2016 Aug 31;10:460-468. eCollection 2016.
Dental Occlusion and Ophthalmology: A Literature Review.
Marchili N1, Ortu E1, Pietropaoli D1, Cattaneo R1, Monaco A1.)

This blog is not intended to treat or diagnose any medical or dental condition. For good health - see your dentist and doctor regularly - your eye doctor, too!

The Predictive Power of Spit

Research presented at the 2015 Alzheimer's Association International Conference on Sunday suggests that it may be possible to use saliva as a diagnostic tool in predicting Alzheimer's disease.  Alzheimer's causes changes in the body years before any symptoms occur and early diagnosis is key, as it is in other diseases, for early treatment and better outcomes.

While this particular study is preliminary and needs to be reviewed and replicated, the predictive power of spit has already been harnessed for other diseases and conditions.  Saliva tests for HIV have been used by medical professionals since the early 2000s and in 2012 the FDA approved a home testing kit for consumers.  According to the National Institutes of Health there are also saliva tests available for hormonal problems and to screen for substance and alcohol abuse.

Oh, spit! 

(photo: Y. Mikalopas)

In dentistry, the importance of healthy saliva has long been recognized as critical for oral health.  In addition to keeping the mouth moist and aiding in digestion of food, saliva contains a host of substances including immune factors, proteins, bacteria, and minerals.  Saliva tests that examine the type of bacteria in the mouth can be used to suggest treatment options for patients at risk for cavities and gum disease.  There are also tests that look at salivary flow, which can aid in treatment of dry mouth.

Saliva tests that examine protein markers, like the preliminary one for Alzheimer's, could potentially be predictive of systemic diseases like cancer.  A study of head and neck cancers at John Hopkins used saliva and blood testing which reliably found DNA markers in the saliva of patients with these cancers.  Changes and differences in proteins in the saliva have also been found in other patients with cancer, such as women with breast cancer.

There is no downside to saliva testing as a diagnostic tool.  Saliva tests that currently exist are easy to use, non-invasive, reliable and relatively inexpensive.  Imagine a future without the need for invasive procedures like biopsies or uncomfortable screenings like mammograms - where a yearly saliva test, done quickly in a doctor's office or at home, could reliably predict disease and result in early intervention and treatment.  

Sources: Alzheimer's Association International Conference (2015). Researchers Report New Ways to Predict the Development of Alzheimers Disease (Press Release). Retrieved from https://www.alz.org/aaic/releases_2015/Sun-8amET.asp; National Institutes of Health, Fact Sheet, Salivary Diagnostics; Y. Wang, S. Springer, et al. "DNA Shed from Head and Neck Tumors Detected in Blood and Saliva," Hopkinsmedicine.org, 24 June 2015; A. Nieves, W. Fitzgerel-Blue. "Saliva: Of Emerging Importance in the Medical and Dental Worlds," rdhmag.com.

This information is not intended to diagnose or treat any condition. Please see your dental or medical professional for treatment and advice.

Over 2 Million Kids Now Using E-cigarettes: Up in Vape, Part II

Last July, I posted about vaping and e-cigarettes.  Of special concern to me that day was the activity I had seen around a boardwalk smoke shop and the number of young people using e-cigarette and vaping products.  In part, I wrote the following:

The attraction of teens and young people to smoking is nothing new…however… there is still so much unknown about the effect of e-cigarettes and vaping on health…. Opportunities to “smoke” continue to grow, regardless of our lack of understanding of the long term consequences…despite claims that e-cigs are safer than regular cigarettes and can help people quit there is little research yet to support this….In the past year there has been a 21% increase in high school students who (use e-cigarettes.)

Earlier this week the American Medical Association released new recommendations for the regulation of e-cigarette products as well as a call for nationwide minimum age purchase requirements. This new policy is based on updated data from the Centers for Disease Control that found a more than 200% increase in the use of electronic cigarettes among high school and middle school students.  That number translates into a total of almost 2.5 million teens and children who use e-cigarettes, up from 780,000 in one year. 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is currently considering a variety of regulations on e-cigarettes similar to cigarettes and tobacco products as well inviting public commentary on the subject.  The European Union has already voted to strictly regulate e-cigarettes starting in 2016, especially where children are concerned. A stumbling block for health policy, however, is that research is scant and still ongoing. While the dangers of cigarettes and tobacco products are well established, the true long-term health risks of electronic delivery systems remain to be seen.  A 2014 Japanese study found very high levels of toxic substances in e-cigarettes, however, other studies, such as one that measured metal exposure from e-cigarettes, found no significant difference versus regular cigarettes.  Still, these studies demonstrate that there is an as yet unquantifiable risk for those who are non-tobacco users using electronic products, none of which are regulated for how they are made or what they contain.

The call for more research and regulation by national as well as international medical, dental, and government agencies alarmed at the growing number of both children and adults using e-cigarettes is a portend of the future.  Their apprehension, based on collective professional, scientific, and health knowledge, as well as a concern for public safety, should not be ignored.   

To read the new ADA press release visit:

http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/news/news/2015/2015-06-09-ama-policy-protect-youth.page

For information on current FDA activity regarding e-cigarettes visit:

http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/PublicHealthFocus/ucm172906.htm

This information is not intended to treat or diagnose any dental or medical condition or illness.  Please visit your medical or dental health professional if you need medical or dental treatment.

Sources: http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/news/news/2015/2015-06-09-ama-policy-protect-youth.page; www.cdc.gov, www,ada,org, www.fda.gov; http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/27/business/european-union-approves-tough-rules; Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2014 Oct 28;11(11):11192-200. doi: 10.3390/ijerph111111192. Carbonyl compounds generated from electronic cigarettes. Bekki K^, Uchiyama S,  Ohta K^, Inaba Y^, Nakagome H^, Kunugita N.  Farsalinos, K.E.; Voudris, V.; Poulas, K.; Are Metals Emitted from Electronic Cigarettes a Reason for Health Concern? A Risk-Assessment Analysis of Currently Available Literature. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2015, 12, 5215-5232.