 Sponsor a Contest ? Healthy Discussions join our public forums |
| A Pill to Help Save Your Smile Research by the Content Manager |
| There's a new weapon in the war against gum disease.
A low-dose antibiotic has just been approved by the FDA. It could help millions of
Americans hang onto their pearly whites. People with periodontitis -- a bacterial invasion of the gums -- are at risk of losing their teeth. The reason? As the body's immune system tries to kill off bacteria, it attacks its own bones and gums -- the scaffolding that keeps teeth in place. The result is nasty pockets around the teeth that can ultimately loosen them. Until now, treatment options have been limited ... and grim -- unpleasant deep cleanings or even surgery. And that, of course, is on top of your standard twice-a-year cleaning. The newly approved pill, called Periostat, seems to prevent those pockets from forming. At the very least, it should buy a little more time between those dreaded visits to the dentist. And wouldn't that be a good reason to grin? |