Thanks,
Dave

Hi Dave–

I’m computationally challenged myself, so I don’t have a clue.  I’ll post this comment, and I’m sure someone out there will tell us.

Cheers–

MRE 

I recently heard about the correlation with medical problems and perio. disease. I feel that my father has serious perio. problems. His gums are receding and his roots are starting to show and his teeth are loosening. We do not have insurance and I am afraid of it getting worse. My father does not understand how this can affect him in so many ways. What do you suggest? See a dentist first? Or a doctor? I really worry about him. He is not overweight, he quit smoking for nearly 8 years and recently became a Vegetarian for 2 years. Thank you so much for this informative article. I hope to hear from you soon.

Lisa

Hi Lisa–

His first trip should be to the dentist.  If his gum disease is bad enough, the dentist will probably refer him to a periodontist.  The vegetarian diet isn’t helping his condition a whole lot.  He needs to be treated sooner rather than later.

Good luck.

MRE 

Your plan truly works!! Thanks.

Hi Melanie–

I’m always happy to annoy dentists by depriving them of bad teeth to work on.

Cheers–

MRE 

As a kid, I was a low carber. I didn’t like rice, pasta, breads. They made me feel over full after a couple of bites. However, I had a great love for meats and vegetables. My dad was one who did not believe in regular costly check-ups. The only time we kids ever saw a dentist was when we had a cavity. I never saw a dentist until I experienced my first pregnancy at the age of 25. That was when I had my first cavity.Of course, now ( 25 years later ),my family and I visit the dentist on a regular basis. But what do you think helped me to a live my first 25 years of life without one cavity, no periodontal disease…nada?

Another story: I began low carbing 4 years ago. For about 3 years after beginning this regimen, we had no dental coverage so we did not visit the dentist.Finally, after 3 years we found an affordable dental plan. When I went to the dentist for a check-up and cleaning I was told that my teeth weren’t bad at all.I had no cavities. The only treatment I received was a routine cleaning that I barely even needed according to the dentist.

Just a Speculation,
Mary

Hi Mary–

Thanks for the report.  I’ve heard the same from many others.  It’s pretty clear that a low-carb diet is good for the teeth and good for the gums.

Cheers–

MRE 

The transcript, and presumably the programme too, contained bits from your old friends from Framingham, Drs Castelli and Kannel, plus Steve Nissen and Daniel Levy. As you say the usual culprits!

Hi Neil–

I figured as much.

Cheers–

MRE 

Hi Norman–

No, I didn’t see the PBS special on heart disease, but I can only imagine.  Especially if they trotted out all the usual suspects as ‘experts.’

I don’t have an answer to your question about survivability of patients with pancreatic cancer who go on a proper diet.  Unfortunately, most of them – at least the ones who try to change their diets – seem to go on low-fat, high-carb diets based on the mistaken notion that these are more ‘natural’ and are what the mainstream deems as more ‘healthful.’

Best–

MRE 

“In addition to a lack of consistent epidemiologic evidence on a role of plaque in the etiology of chronic periodontitis, there is ecologic evidence that suggests that periodontitis prevalence is not dependent on access to traditional personal oral hygiene tools. Despite the absence of traditional Western personal oral hygiene aids in many parts of rural Africa, the prevalence of periodontitis is generally low [4]. In contrast, in the USA population, African-Americans have the highest susceptibility to periodontitis [1]. Similar epidemiologic trends have been observed for diabetes and coronary heart disease. Such trends appear paradoxical since the absence of traditional oral hygiene methods in rural Africa would be expected to be associated with a higher incidence of chronic periodontitis, the opposite of what is observed. While it is possible that chewing sticks with their natural antimicrobials [10] are more effective than Western personal oral hygiene aids, alternative explanations such as Neel’s thrifty gene hypothesis [22] or lifestyle factors such as smoking appear more consistent with explaining the epidemiology of chronic diseases such as diabetes [8] or periodontitis.”

They don’t mention diet as a risk factor, but it would certainly explain the discrepancy between rural Africans and African-Americans. You can read the full article here.

On another note…did you ever take up cold showers or rinses since reading that article I sent you on increased glutathione, superoxide dismutase and catalse in cold water swimmers?

I recently came across this link, which though completely anecdotal, supported the idea of brief cold water exposure promoting longevity.
M

Hi M–

Thanks for the link on paleo peridontal.

I take plunges into Lake Tahoe from time to time, but nothing on a regular basis.  I probably should do it more often, but I just can’t bring myself to.

Cheers–

MRE 

Hi Victoria–

I suspect your dentist is right, sort of.  I think that you can get rid of it with the proper diet, but you could also say that the proper diet controls it.

Cheers–

MRE 

Hi Gary–

A little is probably okay.  I wouldn’t make it the main way I eat meat, though.

Best–

MRE 

My pleasure.

Cheers–

MRE