Butler Gum Urges You to Take Steps to Keep Osteoporosis At Bay - Chances are Your Teeth and Gums Will be Healthier, Too.

Business Editors, Health Writers

CHICAGO--(BW HealthWire)--May 25, 2000

Here's good news women can smile about. If you are taking steps to keep osteoporosis at bay, chances are your teeth and gums will be healthier, too. Researchers are finding that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in post-menopausal women may result in a lower incidence of tooth loss. Plus, dental exams may reveal early signs of osteoporosis in other parts of the body.

According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, more than 28 million women are victims of osteoporosis. In the U.S. today, 10 million individuals already have the disease and 18 million more have low bone mass, placing them at increased risk for osteoporosis. Yet in a recent Internet survey sponsored by the Butler GUM(R) brand of oral care products, only 12 percent of women were aware of the connection between osteoporosis and oral health.

Studies on the relationship between gum disease and osteoporosis are being conducted as part of the Women's Health Initiative, an unprecedented study of women's health after menopause, funded by the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Marjorie Jeffcoat, a leading researcher on the project at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, presented preliminary data at a symposium sponsored by Butler GUM(R) and the National Women's Health Resource Center (NWHRC). The data indicates that patients over age 35 with periodontal disease and/or loose or missing teeth may have undiagnosed osteoporosis in other areas of the body. "Certain oral health conditions may be early warning signs of generalized bone loss that threaten overall health," said Dr. Jeffcoat. "Analysis shows osteoporosis as a risk factor for oral and systemic bone loss."(1)

Dr. Robert Genco, department chair of the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine and presenter at the Butler GUM(R) symposium, proposes that estrogen plays a role in bone remodeling partially because it regulates the enzymes released by the presence of periodontal bacteria. These enzymes promote inflammation and breakdown of the bone supporting the gums. When estrogen levels fall, the ability to halt the inflammation is compromised, which may lead to bone loss and possible tooth loss. The evidence places postmenopausal women at "high risk" for severe periodontal disease and tooth loss. It also means HRT may lower gum inflammation and the frequency of attached tooth loss in women with signs of osteoporosis.(2)

If you are at risk for osteoporosis, be vigilant about oral hygiene measures. Butler GUM(R)recommends a simple three-step process:

1. Brush your teeth twice a day using a soft-bristled brush with DOME

TRIM(TM)bristles arranged so the center bristles are higher. This

design is clinically proven to clean below the gumline.

2. Floss your teeth daily - brushing alone is not enough. Use a floss

material that slides easily between your teeth without shredding.

3. Inform your dentist if you are at risk for osteoporosis so that he

or she can examine your teeth and gums for signs of bone loss as a

regular part of your six-month visit.

Made by the John O. Butler Company (a Sunstar company), the Butler GUM(R) brand of oral care products is the second most recommended and used brand by dental professionals. For more than 75 years, Butler GUM(R) has maintained a steady commitment toward designing, producing and distributing advanced oral care products to consumers and dental professionals worldwide, including the BUTLER GUM(R) SuperTip(R) toothbrush and the new MicroTip(TM) toothbrush with raised center bristles. This DOME TRIM(TM) design has been clinically proven to clean below the gumline and reduce gingivitis. Other inventive products include the Pulse(R) Power Toothbrush, new Proxabrush(R) Snap-Ons Interdental System and non-shredding Eez-Thru(R) Floss. For more information, visit the company at www.LivingYounger.com.

Consumers may call toll free 1-877-98-NWHRC (1-877-986-9472) to receive a FREE copy of a special edition of the NWHRC award-winning publication "Women's Guide To Oral Health" along with an informational brochure with money saving coupons on oral care products. Additional information and related clinical studies can be found in the News Room of www.LivingYounger.com.

i Data presented a clear relationship between baseline basal bone

density measured by digital radiography and hip bone mineral

density (measured by DXA). "Summary of the Brush Up On Wellness

Symposium;" Fischman; Journal of Periodontology, April 2000.

ii "Influence of Estrogen and Osteopenia/Osteoporosis on Clinical

Periodontitis in Postmenopausal Women;" Reinhardt, Payne, Maze,

Patil, Gallagher, Mattson; Journal of Periodontology, August 1999.