Failing to brush your teeth properly could increase the risk of dying prematurely from cancer, researchers claim. They found a link between high levels of dental plaque, or bacteria, and dying from cancer up to 13 years earlier than might otherwise be expected. Those with the most bacteria on the surface of their teeth and gums had an 80 per cent increased risk of premature death. 

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is exactly what its name suggests. The substance is a by-product of blood (plasma) that is rich in platelets. Until now, its use has been confined to the hospital setting. This was due mainly to the cost of separating the platelets from the blood (thousands) and the large amount of blood needed (one unit) to produce a suitable quantity of platelets. New technology permits the doctor to harvest and produce a sufficient quantity of platelets from only 55 cc of blood drawn from the patient while they are having outpatient surgery.

Why all the excitement about PRP?

PRP permits the body to take advantage of the normal healing pathways at a greatly accelerated rate. During the healing process, the body rushes many cells and cell-types to the wound in order to initiate the healing process. One of those cell types is platelets. Platelets perform many functions, including formation of a blood clot and release of growth factors (GF) into the wound. These GF (platelet derived growth factors PGDF, transforming growth factor beta TGF, and insulin-like growth factor ILGF) function to assist the body in repairing itself by stimulating stem cells to regenerate new tissue. The more growth factors released sequestered into the wound, the more stem cells stimulated to produce new host tissue. Thus, one can easily see that PRP permits the body to heal faster and more efficiently.

A subfamily of TGF, is bone morphogenic protein (BMP). BMP has been shown to induce the formation of new bone in research studies in animals and humans. This is of great significance to the surgeon who places dental implants. By adding PRP, and thus BMP, to the implant site with bone substitute particles, the implant surgeon can now grow bone more predictably and faster than ever before.

PRP also has many advantages:

Safety: PRP is a by-product of the patient’s own blood, therefore, disease transmission is not an issue.

Convenience: PRP can be generated in the doctor’s office while the patient is undergoing an outpatient surgical procedure, such as placement of dental implants.

Faster healing: The supersaturation of the wound with PRP, and thus growth factors, produces an increase of tissue synthesis and thus faster tissue regeneration.

Cost effectiveness: Since PRP harvesting is done with only 55 cc of blood in the doctor’s office, the patient need not incur the expense of the harvesting procedure in hospital or at the blood bank.

Ease of use: PRP is easy to handle and actually improves the ease of application of bone substitute materials and bone grafting products by making them more gel-like.

Frequently asked questions about PRP:

Is PRP safe? Yes. During the outpatient surgical procedure a small amount of your own blood is drawn out via the IV. This blood is then placed in the PRP centrifuge machine and spun down. In less than fifteen minutes, the PRP is formed and ready to use.

Should PRP be used in all bone-grafting cases? Not always. In some cases, there is no need for PRP. However, in the majority of cases, application of PRP to the graft will increase the final amount of bone present in addition to making the wound heal faster and more efficiently.

Will my insurance cover the costs? Unfortunately not. The cost of the PRP application (approximately $400) is paid by the patient.

Can PRP be used alone to stimulate bone formation? No. PRP must be mixed with either the patient’s own bone, a bone substitute material such as demineralized freeze-dried bone, or a synthetic bone product, such as BIO-OSS.

Are there any contraindications to PRP? Very few. Obviously, patients with bleeding disorders or hematologic diseases do not qualify for this in-office procedure. Check with your surgeon and/or primary care physician to determine if PRP is right for you.

Dentists have issued a warning about popular fruit drinks and smoothies after it emerged some can be as acidic as vinegar.

Fruity drinks are commonly given to children by well-meaning parents to ensure they get their ‘five a day’.

But an investigation found many contained a high acid level which can erode tooth enamel.

Hidden danger: While parents mean well giving children seemingly healthy fruit drinks, they can contain acid levels which are damaging to teeth, warn dentists

The warning came as official figures revealed dental problems were the third most common reason for child hospital admissions last year.

A This Water drink with lemons and limes had a pH level of 2.7 – more acidic than vinegar, at 2.9.

This is at the upper end of the acidity scale in which 7 is neutral and 1 is extremely high.

Tooth enamel begins to be destroyed higher than level 5.5 on the scale.

Other drinks tested – including Tropicana orange juice, Copella apple juice and Innocent smoothies – all had acid levels ranging between 3.3 and 3.8. The most acidic was Coca-Cola, with a pH level of 2.5.

Dr Kathy Harley, dean of the dental faculty at the Royal College of Surgeons, said many parents are unaware that the combination of high acid and sugar can destroy young teeth. 

Once-a-week treat: Dentists warn it is better for children to eat fruit with their meals or to have cheese or other alkaline food to combat the effects of acidic drinks

She warned last year that 50 per cent of five-year-olds have signs of damage to their tooth enamel caused by excess acid in their diet.

Manufacturers are not required to publish the acid levels in drinks.

Department of Health figures show dental problems were the third most common reason for children to be admitted to hospital in England in 2011-12 – beaten only by viral infections and disorders related to premature birth.

Government advice states that everyone should have five portions of fruit and vegetables a day, with 150ml of fruit juice counting as one portion.

Dr Harley said it would be better if children met the target by eating fruit with meals and for juice to be a ‘once a week treat’.

Dentists also advise drinking water after having juice to wash away some of the acid.

This Water said its products were ‘not meant for children’, adding: ‘The recipe in question is made with fresh lemon and lime juice so it is going to have a natural acidity.’

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2147329/Fruit-drinks-acidic-vinegar-rot-away-teeth-enamel-dentists-say.html#ixzz1vX61qwfn