IN THE NEWS
Aetna Finds
Periodontal Treatment lowers overal health cost!
Periodontal
Treatment raises mortality rate of diabetics by factor of 7.5!
Oral Cancer
& Periodontal Disease
"UB study links gum disease with oral cancer risk"
The Nutrition Connection - Supporting the body's defense
system
By Marcus Gitterle, MD
A famous doctor once told me that “Medicines, such
as antibiotics don’t cure you; They just reduce the level
of harmful bacteria to the point where your own immune system can
take over”.
The immune system is the body's defense against infectious organisms
and other invaders. Through a series of steps called the immune
response, the immune system attacks organisms and substances that
invade our systems and cause disease. The immune system is made
up of a network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together
to protect the body. As we age, the body is less able to assimilate
the nutrients required to maintain an optimal immune system and
it is more necessary to make sure that our diet contains fruits
and vegetables and that we take the right supplements. We have heard
much about anti-oxidants that prevent cell oxidation and lower the
occurrence of disease, aging and even cancer. They are important
supporters of the immune system.
As we have noted, periodontal disease is much more common among
60 year olds than 20 year olds, even though 60 year olds are more
dental savvy and probably brush better. The difference is likely
in the body’s ability to fight off the attacks of bacteria
and chemicals.
Recent research at Loma Linda University showed that a nutritional
supplement alone (Pharmaden), without any other dental treatment,
was able to significantly combat the effects of periodontal disease,
lowering bleeding and pocket depths (19).
The key ingredients in the supplement were Grapeseed Extract, CoQ10
(Ubiquanone), Echinacea and Folic Acid. It is valuable to examine
these elements because several are not normally found in your daily
multi-vitamin.
| 
