Women With Lupus: Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis affects 44 million Americans.  For those with lupus, some treatments increase the risk of the disease, resulting in weaker bones and a greater chance of fracture.  In fact, women with lupus experience osteoporosis-related fractures almost five times more often than other women.  Therefore, bone health is important.

Bone Loss

How can you keep your bone strong?  Get moving!  Activities, even walking, that strain bone, both stimulate bone growth and reduce bone loss.  In addition, your lupus physician will perform bone density testing, determine nutrient values in your blood, and prescribe medications and supplements to prevent osteoporosis.

Source:  Lupus Foundation of America

Robert G. Tupac, DDS, FACP, Inc., Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics (661) 325-1275 | www.drtupac.com 5060 California Ave., #170, Bakersfield, CA 93309

Ways to Prevent Osteoporosis

There are ways to forestall the loss of bone mass that accompanies aging.

• Get enough calcium--the National Institutes of Health (NIH) recommends 1,000mg of calcium daily, increasing to 1,200 mg daily for women over 50 and men over 70
• Avoid soda--cola, in any form, has been linked to greater risk of bone thinning, and, in addition, can cause weight gain which has adverse effects on bone health
• No smoking--puts bone health at risk
• Reduce sodium intake--especially with high blood pressure, sodium increases calcium excretion 
• Vitamin D--either by sunshine or with diet or supplements, this vitamin helps calcium absorption

More at: www.toyourhealth.com

Robert G. Tupac, DDS, FACP, Inc., Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics (661) 325-1275 | www.drtupac.com 5060 California Ave., #170, Bakersfield, CA 93309

Get a Bone Density Test

How to check your bones

A bone density test measures your bone strength and if you are at risk for osteoporosis. The test is painless and is like an x-ray scan of your body and takes about 15 minutes.

If you are a woman age 65 or older, schedule a bone density test.  If you are a woman between 50 and 64, ask your doctor if you need one.  If you are a man over 65, discuss it with your doctor.

Osteoporosis is a bone disease that has no signs or symptoms.  It weakens bones and makes them more likely to break, especially bones in the hip, spine and wrist.  It is most common in older women.  One in two women and one in four men over age 50 will break a bone in their lifetime because of osteoporosis.

To protect your bone health, get enough calcium and vitamin D.  The calcium shopping list includes low fat or fat free milk, cheese and yogurt, almonds, broccoli and greens, orange juice with added calcium, and calcium supplements.Get enough vitamin D from salmon or tuna, fat free or low fat milk with vitamin D, some cereals and juices and yogurt with added vitamin D, and vitamin D supplements.

Stay active!  Physical activity slows bone loss.  Moderate aerobic activity and strengthening exercises can make a big difference.

Source:  National Health Information Center

Robert G. Tupac, DDS, FACP, Inc., Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics (661) 325-1275 | www.drtupac.com 5060 California Ave., #170, Bakersfield, CA 93309

Oral Health--Osteoporosis Connection

What is Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by reduced density of bones, and subsequent tendency to fracture, caused by aging, menopause, and lack of vitamin D and calcium.  More women than men are affected by the condition.

Osteoporosis Affects Teeth

For those people with teeth, studies have shown that osteoporosis affects the bone surrounding the roots of the teeth, resulting in loss of bone height or causing tooth mobility.  Gingivitis refers to inflammation of the gum tissues.  When that inflammation spreads deeper, below the gumline, to the tissues that attach to the root or are close to the bone around the roots, then the condition has become periodontitis.  Therefore, for the patient with osteoporosis, who also has gum inflammation, there is a greater risk for that inflammation to progress to periodontitis and cause tooth loss.

For the patient who has no teeth and wears complete dentures, osteoporosis causes more rapid loss of the bone that forms the ridges upon which the dentures rest.  Less bone means a denture with less retention and stability, with concomitant discomfort and lack of function.  This bone loss also requires the dentures to be relined or replaced more frequently.

Robert G. Tupac, DDS, FACP, Inc., Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics (661) 325-1275 | www.drtupac.com 5060 California Ave., #170, Bakersfield, CA 93309

Bone Density Testing and Osteoporosis

A bone density test measures your bone strength and if you are at risk for osteoporosis.  The test is painless and is like an x-ray scan of your body and takes about 15 minutes.  If you are a woman age 65 or older, schedule a bone density test.  If you are a woman age 50-64, ask your doctor if you need one.  If you are a man over 65, discuss it with your doctor.  If you are at risk for osteoporosis, you may be tested every two years.  

Osteoporosis has no signs

Osteoporosis is a bone disease that has no signs or symptoms.  It weakens bone and makes them more likely to break, especially bones in the hip, spine and wrist.  It is most common in older women.  One in two women and one in four men over age 50 will break a bone in their lifetime because of osteoporosis.  How to protect your bone health:  Get enough calcium and vitamin D!  The calcium shopping list includes low fat or fat free milk, cheese and yogurt, almonds, broccoli and greens, orange juice with added calcium and calcium supplements.  Get enough vitamin D--from salmon or tuna, fat free or low fat milk with vitamin D, some cereals and juices and yogurt with added vitamin D, and vitamin D supplements.  Stay active!  Physical activity slows bone loss.  Moderate aerobic activity and strengthening exercises can make a big difference.  Discuss any medication or supplements with your doctor.  

Source:  National Health Information Center 

Robert G. Tupac, DDS, FACP, Inc., Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics (661) 325-1275 | www.drtupac.com 5060 California Ave., #170, Bakersfield, CA 93309

Maintain Healthy Bones Throughout Life

Osteoporosis

Bones provide structure for your body, protect organs, anchor muscles and store calcium. Protecting bone health is easier than you think.  Bone is continually remodelling itself, but after the age of 30 you lose slightly more than you gain.  

The higher your peak bone mass, the less likely you are to develop osteoporosis as you age.  Some factors that affect bone health--getting older, being a woman, your race, frame size and family history--you can't change.

Prevent Bone Loss

But, there are many things you can do to prevent or slow bone loss:  Include plenty of calcium in your diet. The Institute of Medicine recommends 1,000 milligrams (mg) of calcium per day for women up to age 50 and men up to age 70.  Women over 50 and men over 70 require 1,200 mg per day. Dietary sources of calcium are dairy products, almonds, broccoli, kale, canned salmon with bones, sardines and soy products (tofu).  Vitamin D: up to age 70, at least 600 international units (IUs) daily.  Over the age of 70, 800 IUs are recommended.  Besides sunlight, sources are oily fish (tuna and sardines), egg yolks, fortified milk, and vitamin D supplements.  People who are physically inactive have a higher risk of osteoporosis, so include physical activity in your daily routine.  Weight-bearing exercises such as walking, jogging or climbing stairs for 30 minutes a day help slow bone loss.  Avoid tobacco use and more than two alcoholic drinks per day.  Anorexia and bulimia are risks for bone loss.  Stomach surgery (gastrectomy), weight-loss surgery and some conditions (Crohn's disease, celiac disease and Cushing's disease) can affect your body's ability to absorb calcium.  

For women, bone density drops dramatically due to reduced estrogen after menopause.  Your physician may recommend hormone replacement therapy, keeping in mind that there are risks associated with it.  There are medications, such as bisphosphonates (Fosomax, Boniva) designed to maintain bone mass, that your physician may recommend.  

Source:  Mayo Clinic.com  

Robert G. Tupac, DDS, FACP, Inc., Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics (661) 325-1275 | www.drtupac.com 5060 California Ave., #170, Bakersfield, CA 93309

Ways to Prevent Osteoporosis

There are ways to forestall the loss of bone mass that accompanies aging.

• Get enough calcium--the National Institutes of Health (NIH) recommends 1,000mg of calcium daily, increasing to 1,200 mg daily for women over 50 and men over 70
• Avoid soda--cola, in any form, has been linked to greater risk of bone thinning, and, in addition, can cause weight gain which has adverse effects on bone health
• No smoking--puts bone health at risk
• Reduce sodium intake--especially with high blood pressure, sodium increases calcium excretion 
• Vitamin D--either by sunshine or with diet or supplements, this vitamin helps calcium absorption

More at: www.toyourhealth.com

Robert G. Tupac, DDS, FACP, Inc.,
Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics
(661) 325-1275 | www.drtupac.com
5060 California Ave., #170, Bakersfield, CA 93309

The Importance of Bone Density

Osteoporosis

As we grow older, our bones begin to lose their density and strength, especially after the age of 50.  Many factors affect bone density, including diet, physical activity, family history, hormones, lifestyle and certain conditions and medications.  Osteoporosis--porous bone--is a disease that weakens bones, especially hip, spine and wrist, and makes them more likely to break.  It affects about 10 million Americans, 8 million of whom are women.  The disease affects more women than cancer, heart disease and stroke combined. 

Osteoporosis affect women than men

An additional 34 million Americans have osteopenia, or low bone density, and are at risk for developing osteoporosis.  Broken bones, as a result of osteoporosis, will affect 50% of women and 25% of men over the age of 50, according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation.  To prevent broken bones, many people with low bone density or osteoporosis take drugs called bisphosphonates (fosomax, boniva, actonel, reclast, etc.).  Studies indicate that, in many people, these medications help reduce the chance of breaking bones by reducing bone loss and increasing bone density.  

Osteonecrosis

In rare cases, a condition known as osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) has been reported in patients taking these medications.  This rare but serious condition can cause severe damage to the jawbone.  94% of those diagnosed with ONJ are patients with cancer who are receiving or have received repeated high doses of medication through an intravenous infusion.  The benefits of these medications greatly outweigh the very low risk of developing ONJ.  You should not stop taking these medications without consulting your health care provider.  There is no known prevention for ONJ.  However, regular dental visits and excellent oral hygiene practices may be the best way to reduce your risk.  

Source: American Dental Association, JADA, vol. 142, #11, 1320, Nov. 1, 2011

Robert G. Tupac, DDS, FACP, Inc., Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics (661) 325-1275 | www.drtupac.com 5060 California Ave., #170, Bakersfield, CA 93309

Bisphosphonates Delay Healing After Extraction

Risk For BON

Patients taking certain forms of the popular bisphosphonate medications for osteoporosis are at risk for developing BP-associated osteonecrosis (BON).  BON is the presence of exposed necrotic bone for at least eight weeks anywhere in the oral cavity of a person exposed to BPs and who has not received radiation therapy to the head and neck.

Exposed To BPs

As reported in the Journal of the American Dental Association, a controlled study population in Florida, Canada and Norway, between 2007 and 2011, compared patients who were and were not exposed to BPs and needed tooth extraction.  Data was collected and analyzed. By controlling for other factors, the researchers showed that BP exposure is the main factor in delayed healing.  They found that BP exposure inhibits normal mucosal (soft tissue) healing.

Robert G. Tupac, DDS, FACP, Inc., Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics (661) 325-1275 | www.drtupac.com 5060 California Ave., #170, Bakersfield, CA 93309

Get a Bone Density Test

How to check your bones

A bone density test measures your bone strength and if you are at risk for osteoporosis. The test is painless and is like an x-ray scan of your body and takes about 15 minutes.

If you are a woman age 65 or older, schedule a bone density test.  If you are a woman between 50 and 64, ask your doctor if you need one.  If you are a man over 65, discuss it with your doctor.

Osteoporosis is a bone disease that has no signs or symptoms.  It weakens bones and makes them more likely to break, especially bones in the hip, spine and wrist.  It is most common in older women.  One in two women and one in four men over age 50 will break a bone in their lifetime because of osteoporosis.

To protect your bone health, get enough calcium and vitamin D.  The calcium shopping list includes low fat or fat free milk, cheese and yogurt, almonds, broccoli and greens, orange juice with added calcium, and calcium supplements.Get enough vitamin D from salmon or tuna, fat free or low fat milk with vitamin D, some cereals and juices and yogurt with added vitamin D, and vitamin D supplements.

Stay active!  Physical activity slows bone loss.  Moderate aerobic activity and strengthening exercises can make a big difference.

Source:  National Health Information Center


Robert G. Tupac, DDS, FACP, Inc., 
Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics
(661) 325-1275 | www.drtupac.com
5060 California Ave., #170, Bakersfield, CA 93309