Want Healthy Teeth and Gums? Hit the Dairy Aisle
CHICAGO—February 6, 2008—Consumers have long known that including dairy in their diets can help maintain healthy bones and even help promote weight loss. However, a study published in the Journal of Periodontology, the official publication of the American Academy of
“Research has suggested that periodontal disease may affect overall systemic health,” said study author Dr. Yoshihiro Shimazaki of Kyushu University in Fukuoka, Japan. “This study reinforces what much of the public already knows – the importance of dairy in helping achieve a healthy lifestyle, including a healthy mouth.”
Study participants aged 40 through 79 were examined on two periodontal parameters that can indicate gum disease, periodontal pocket depth (PD) and clinical attachment
Periodontal, or gum, disease is a chronic bacterial infection that affects the gums and bone supporting the teeth. Periodontal disease is a major cause of tooth loss in adults and has been connected to the development of heart disease and increased risk of stroke, and can contribute to complications from diabetes, respiratory disease or osteoporosis.
“Millions of adults already suffer from periodontal disease,” says