Common diabetes drug could treat gum disease and help you age healthier

Researchers at the Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences have discovered a groundbreaking approach to combat periodontal (gum) disease, potentially reducing the incidence of diabetes and obesity. Their study, published in the Journal of Translational Medicine, focuses on using Metformin, a common type 2 diabetes drug, to control inflammation and sugar levels in both the mouth and body.

Periodontal diseases are prevalent worldwide and strongly linked to systemic conditions like diabetes and obesity, often stemming from lifestyle choices such as high sugar intake. Traditional treatments involve deep cleaning and antibiotics, which do not address systemic diseases’ continuation.

Metformin, known for regulating sugar metabolism in diabetes, showed promising results in preventing bone loss due to periodontal disease in mice and improved clinical outcomes in gum disease patients in a clinical trial. This new method may also help manage weight gain and sugar levels, offering a comprehensive solution to oral and systemic diseases.

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Would never expect that these two fields could overlap :anguished: But an exciting discovery if this is the case

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The idea of addressing both oral and systemic health issues with one treatment approach is really groundbreaking. Looking forward to seeing how this research progresses!

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