Find UK reseller and exclusive resellers here. Find UK reseller and exclusive resellers here.
Home / News / Tagged: event

World Oral Health Day 2024: A Healthy Mouth Supports Brain Health

World Oral Health Day 2024: A Healthy Mouth Supports Brain Health

World Oral Health Day is celebrated annually on March 20th. This year's theme - A Happy Mouth… A Happy Body  - emphasizes the connection between a healthy mouth and overall health.

Dental and oral bacteria are linked to many chronic diseases in the body. Thorough brushing and regular dental visits can also prevent strokes (1).

According to statistics from the World Stroke Organization (WSO), over 13 million people suffer from strokes each year, and one in four people will have a stroke in their lifetime. Surprisingly, up to 90% of these cases could be prevented by making lifestyle changes such as adopting a healthier diet, increasing regular exercise, quitting smoking, and even improving regular oral hygiene.

Medical Licentiate Olli Patrakka examined the significance of oral bacteria, especially viridans group streptococci, in the development of strokes in his recent doctoral dissertation in forensic medicine at the University of Tampere. Although these bacteria are normal mouth microbes, they can cause serious illnesses such as heart valve inflammation when they enter the bloodstream. For example, they can enter the bloodstream through inflamed gums while brushing teeth.

- These bacteria attach to the tooth's surface in the mouth and initiate the process, leading to the formation of dental plaque. We hypothesize that a similar phenomenon occurs when bacteria that enter the bloodstream during, for example, dental procedures or dental infections travel into the walls of the arteries. This may accelerate the development of both strokes and atherosclerosis, explains Patrakka.

Poor oral hygiene is a risk factor for strokes

According to Patrakka, dental bacteria can be found in the blood clots of stroke patients in about four out of five cases. A similar result has yet to be reported.

Blood clots from stroke patients treated in Tampere were collected for the study during acute care. In addition, samples from patients suffering from symptomatic carotid artery stenosis were used as tissues for endarterectomy.

Epidemiological studies have shown that poor oral hygiene is an independent risk factor for strokes.

- The results of my study suggest that the connection could be explicitly explained through the inflammatory reaction caused by dental bacteria in atherosclerotic plaques.

The findings of the dissertation are significant as they open up new opportunities to develop the treatment of stroke patients.

Patrakka estimates that the development of a vaccine may also be possible.

So, what practical implications can findings like these have on treating stroke patients and healthcare practices?

Although further research is needed to determine causality, the study supports the view that oral health must be taken care of, especially in those at risk of strokes.

According to Patrakka, the inflammation caused by streptococcal bacteria in the mouth should always be considered in stroke prevention as part of regular dental care. Additionally, it is essential to investigate the potential benefits of timely antimicrobial treatment or bacterial vaccines in the future.

Periodontitis is the root cause of many ailments

Studies show dental plaque bacteria are responsible for about 95 per cent of oral diseases. One of the most common oral diseases is periodontitis, a severe gum disease caused by dental plaque. Early signs of this disease include red gums, gum bleeding, and bad breath.

In patients with periodontitis, the fibres that attach the tooth to the gum are destroyed, forming a periodontal pocket between the gum and the tooth. This pocket may expand around the entire tooth. If the infection is not treated promptly and oral hygiene is not improved, it can progress to destroy more extensively the supporting tissues of the teeth and, ultimately, the jawbone.

Thorough oral hygiene is crucial for the prevention and treatment of oral infections. According to the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), more and more people in Finland brush their teeth at least twice a day, but there are still deficiencies in self-care. While about 80% of women brush their teeth at least twice a day, the corresponding figure for men is 53%.

Deficiencies in oral hygiene are directly reflected in the statistics of oral infectious diseases. For example, gum diseases are worryingly common in the age group of 30-44, both in women (43%) and men (57%).

Thorough mechanical brushing of teeth and cleaning of the interdental spaces are crucial because even asymptomatic oral inflammations can affect the body's overall health.

- According to statistics, individuals with healthy mouths live longer. Every missing tooth reduces life expectancy. This is talked about far too little, says Tommi Pätilä, a heart and transplant surgeon at HUS New Children's Hospital in Helsinki, Finland.

Pätilä is also one of the developers of the antibacterial Lumoral method. Lumoral is a medical device designed to improve oral hygiene and oral health. The antibacterial oral care method is especially suitable for patients with difficult-to-treat gum diseases such as periodontitis who do not get adequate results from traditional oral hygiene methods such as brushing teeth and cleaning interdental spaces.

The importance of interdisciplinary collaboration

According to Pätilä, collaboration between doctors and dentists is essential and needs to be increased in Finland. Many doctors in Finland already check the oral health status of their patients at their clinics and guide them to further treatment as needed. Diabetes is an excellent example of a disease where the importance of hidden inflammations is generally understood. However, more collaboration is required to expedite many diagnoses and even prevent general diseases.

- The recent medical dissertation at the University of Tampere is significant as it addresses oral health as part of overall body health, says Pätilä.

Olli Patrakka's interest in oral bacteria arose as part of his duties as a pathologist. Has the interest of young doctors in the impact of dental infections on general health increased?

- It hasn't increased, but it should. In the basic medical training I received about five years ago, there was also no discussion of the impact of dental infections on general health. Of course, the topic is still relatively new, but hopefully, awareness and scientific evidence will gradually increase over the years.

Patrakka emphasizes that a general practitioner should know when a dental problem requires a referral to a dentist. This would expedite the treatment of oral infections and potentially support the achievement of balance in the treatment of many general diseases.

- My research contributes to the evidence that the impact of oral health on general health is significant. The blood vessels of the tooth pulp are directly connected to the systemic circulation. Thus bacteria and their metabolites can circulate directly into our bodies if the teeth are not in good condition.

Olli Patrakka. Image: Hanna-Sofia Luoto

References:

Sen S, Giamberardino LD, Moss K, Morelli T, Rosamond WD, Gottesman RF, Beck J, Offenbacher S. Periodontal Disease, Regular Dental Care Use, and Incident Ischemic Stroke. Stroke. 2018 Feb;49(2):355-362. doi: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.117.018990. Epub 2018 Jan 15. PMID: 29335336; PMCID: PMC5780242.

https://trepo.tuni.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/154588/978-952-03-3315-7.pdf?sequence=2&isAllowed=y

Pakarinen S, Saarela RKT, Välimaa H, Heikkinen AM, Kankuri E, Noponen M, Alapulli H, Tervahartiala T, Räisänen IT, Sorsa T, et al. Home-Applied Dual-Light Photodynamic Therapy in the Treatment of Stable Chronic Periodontitis (HOPE-CP)—Three-Month Interim Results. Dentistry Journal. 2022; 10(11):206. https://doi.org/10.3390/dj10110206

Nikinmaa S, Alapulli H, Auvinen P, Vaara M, Rantala J, et al. (2020) Dual-light photodynamic therapy administered daily provides a sustained antibacterial effect on biofilm and prevents Streptococcus mutans adaptation. PLOS ONE 15(5): e0232775. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0232775

Nikinmaa S, Moilanen N, Sorsa T, Rantala J, Alapulli H, Kotiranta A, Auvinen P, Kankuri E, Meurman JH, Pätilä T. Indocyanine Green-Assisted and LED-Light-Activated Antibacterial Photodynamic Therapy Reduces Dental Plaque. Dentistry Journal. 2021; 9(5):52. https://doi.org/10.3390/dj9050052

 



Lumoral on display at Spanish health events, including Oral Hygienists' Convention

Lumoral on display at Spanish health events, including Oral Hygienists' Convention

Finnish health technology company Koite Health Oy will present its Lumoral innovation at the Spanish National Congress of Oral Hygienists (Congreso Nacional de Higienistas Bucodentales y 1º Encuentro Europeo), which will take place for the 34th time this year, from 27.10.-29.10.2023.

Following this event, Lumoral will also be featured at the 1st Galician Multidisciplinary Congress for higher-level healthcare technicians (1st Congresso Gallego Multidisciplinar) on 4 November 2023, in the Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela.

At the Spanish National Congress of Oral Hygienists, oral healthcare professionals will learn about the latest dental innovations, including latest techniques that improve dental and gum health. Koite Health's Commercial Director Tero Pasanen will be present to tell participants about the benefits of Lumoral in oral health maintenance and in the prevention and treatment of oral diseases.

- Professionalism is always a safe and profitable investment. That is why, through our association, we want to share the knowledge and accumulated scientific expertise of the best national and international professionals with all oral hygienists in Spain, said Eva López de Castro, President of the 34th National Congress of Oral Hygienists and First European Meeting.

The 1st Galician Multidisciplinary Congress for higher-level healthcare technicians is a multidisciplinary event aimed at healthcare professionals, including dental hygienists and prosthetists, as well as higher-level health technicians. At the event, Lumoral partner Gianfranco Panzironi will explain to the visitors how the antibacterial Lumoral method works, the science behind the product, and how Lumoral is designed to enhance oral home care for the prevention and treatment of gum diseases and dental caries.

Growth potential in Spain

Spain is an attractive market for Koite Health due to its robust private dental sector.

Based on the feedback received, Spanish oral health experts, particularly oral hygienists, display great interest in Lumoral for preventing oral diseases. Tero Pasanen said.

-To reinforce this image, we are currently taking part in oral health professionals' events and will gradually expand to include medical events in the country.

According to Pasanen, the main objective of the upcoming event for dental hygienists is to find Spanish oral health contacts with whom Koite Health can start a broader collaboration. These contacts can support the subsequent broader launch and marketing of Lumoral in Spain.

In Spain, more than half of the adult population have gingivitis and almost 40% have periodontal disease in their mouths, so there is a significant need for preventive oral health care in the country. The control of oral biofilm, or dental plaque, is crucial to prevent oral diseases such as gingivitis, periodontitis and tooth decay. However, studies have shown that even a high-quality electric toothbrush only removes around 65% of harmful bacteria in the mouth.

The antibacterial Lumoral treatment enhances the effects of the toothbrush, and studies show that it also significantly improves the results of professional oral care in a preventative way. Lumoral slows down plaque formation, significantly reducing the burden of harmful bacteria in the mouth (3).


References:

  1. Almerich-Silla JM, Almiñana-Pastor PJ, Boronat-Catalá M, Bellot-Arcís C, Montiel-Company JM. Socioeconomic factors and severity of periodontal disease in adults (35-44 years). A cross sectional study. J Clin Exp Dent. 2017 Aug 1;9(8):e988-e994. doi: 10.4317/jced.54033. PMID: 28936289; PMCID: PMC5601116.
  2. Pakarinen, Saila, et al. "Home-Applied Dual-Light Photodynamic Therapy in the Treatment of Stable Chronic Periodontitis (HOPE-CP)—Three-Month Interim Results." Dentistry Journal 10.11 (2022): 206
  3. Neha Aggarwal, Sunil Gupta, Rashu Grover, Gunmeen Sadana, and Karan Bansal; Plaque Removal Efficacy of Different Toothbrushes: A Comparative Study, Int J Clin Pediatr Dent. 2019 Sep-Oct; 12(5): 385–390.  doi: 10.5005/jp-journals-10005-1669

Koite Health to showcase its Lumoral innovation at Italy’s Expodental Meeting

Koite Health to showcase its Lumoral innovation at Italy’s Expodental Meeting

Finnish health tech group Koite Health – named one of Europe’s hottest startup companies in 2022 – is proud to join the Expodental Meeting event in Rimini, Italy, on 18— 20 May 2023. Together Koite Health and Megagen Italia will present the Lumoral-method to the Italian market. Lumoral is an innovative technology designed to enhance oral home care for the prevention and treatment of gum diseases and dental caries.

Koite Health recently signed a distribution accord with Megagen Italia – a company, which markets cutting-edge dental implant systems and advanced surgical devices. As a kickoff to the new collaboration, both companies will be present at the Expodental Meeting.

The global dental implants market is flourishing because of a growing prevalence of dental diseases and tooth loss, an aging population, and the rapid adoption of technology advancements and digital technologies, such as computer-aided design and 3D printing, in dental implant materials and design. In Italy, dental implants are also very common.

According to Mr. Federico Annoni from Megagen Italia, the implant market is constantly growing in Italy due to the rapidly aging population and because many people neglect their oral health. This contributes to the loss of natural teeth. Thus, the use of implants is necessary.

Oral home care is very important for the health of dental implants, he adds. Proper oral hygiene combined with regular use of Lumoral could be decisive in preventing periodontitis and peri-implantitis.

Megagen will participate at the Expodental Meeting with two stands – one exclusively dedicated to Megagen products (A3 - Stand 30) and another devoted solely to Lumoral (C3 - Stand 187) where specialists from both Megagen Italia and Koite Health will be present.

 

***

Facts: Global Dental Implants Market

• 50 million implants have been inserted globally so far, while 10 million new implants are being inserted in patients' mouths each year. Maintaining the health of implants is crucial.

• Peri-implantitis is a serious gum disease that impacts the health of implants and can lead to loss of them, if left untreated. Despite impressive success rates, one implant is still lost every four minutes, which translates into 140,000 cases per year.

• Around 50% of implant patients will develop peri-implant mucositis over time. Approximately one-third of all patients will develop clinically manifested peri-implantitis.

(Source: Dentognostics)