FYI Research

Mouthwash May Prevent Premature Birth

Antimicrobial, alcohol-free mouthwash containing cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) may reduce the risk of premature birth in pregnant women who use it twice daily, according to a recent clinical trial sponsored by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and Proctor & Gamble Co. Trial results showed that pregnant women using mouthwash with the ammonium-based compound were less likely to experience premature birth rate than women who did not use the mouthwash, 6.1 percent and 21.9 percent, respectively. Statistics show that pregnancy hormones associated with an increased incidence of gum swelling and irritation may lead to premature birth. CPC is an antiseptic known to reduce this irritation and swelling by killing bacteria and microorganisms in the mouth.

From the May 2011 edition of AGD Impact

FYI Research

Artery-hardening Bacteria Identified in Plaque

Findings published in the January 2011 issue of the Journal of Atherosclerosis and Thrombosis identified specific bacteria that may have a key role in vascular pathogenesis, specifically atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries. Researchers from the Department of Surgery and the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center at Columbia University College of Dental Medicine used specimens and isolated plaques in a 78-year-old man who previously had a heart attack. The authors of the article describe processing the tissue using cell cultures and genomic analysis to look for the presence of bacteria. Taking cultures of the cells aided the isolation of the bacteria. The study found that the isolated bacteria were resistant to antibiotics. The bacteria can be internalized in white blood cells, but avoid immediate death. This can lead to problems for both patients and clinicians, including failed antibiotic treatment and atherosclerosis.

From the April 2011 Edition of AGD Impact