Thomas E. Van Dyke, DDS Boston University’s Goldman School of Dental Medicine
Found this article and with our office preventive program, I found it interesting and informative. There is so much in the future related to oral conditions and the gateway to the body. In several years there is the possibility of diagnosis of different disease processes from various oral tests. Taking care of yourself and your our condition are becoming one in the same. Looking forward to discussing this with anyone who reads this. I will break it up into 2 separate postings. DJM
Despite all the multi-ingredient toothpastes, bacteria-busting mouthwashes and high-tech toothbrushes, the gums of Americans aren’t in very good shape.
About half of adults have gingivitis — infected, swollen, bleeding gums. The rate is 80% for Americans over age 65. Periodontal disease — advanced erosion of gum tissue and, eventually, the surrounding bone — affects 15% of the general population and 20% of those over age 65.
Danger: If you have gum disease, you may be at increased risk for several other diseases, including killers such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer. The more severe the gum disease, the greater the risk.
THE INFLAMMATION LINK
Bacteria in the mouth cause gum disease. White blood cells flood the area to battle the bacteria, releasing chemicals in the process that create an inflammatory response — the telltale redness and swelling that signal your immune system is at work. But inflammation has a downside — it damages tissue. Scientists now understand that inflammation causes or complicates many diseases, including heart disease and diabetes. Inflammation from gum disease has been linked to these and other diseases in three possible ways…
Bacteria from the mouth may travel to other parts of the body, causing inflammation.
Local inflammation in the gums may spark inflammation throughout the body.
You may have a genetic predisposition to diseases that have an inflammatory component, such as diabetes and arthritis. If you get one, you’re more likely to get another.
DISEASE DANGERS
Here are the health problems linked to gum disease…
Heart disease. In analyzing data from the 10,000 Americans who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), scientists found that those with periodontal disease were much more likely to be diagnosed with heart disease than people without periodontal disease. The connection might work like this…
Infected gums send bacterial toxins and cytokines (chemicals released by white blood cells that intensify inflammation) into the bloodstream. When the toxins and cytokines reach the arteries of the heart, they stimulate white blood cells there, sparking further thickening of arterial plaque. They might even trigger a rupture in the plaque, releasing an artery-closing clot.
New study: Doctors from the University of Connecticut studied 120 men with advanced periodontal disease — mostly middle-aged, overweight men, many of whom were either smokers or former smokers.
At the start of the study, researchers tested for endothelial strength — the capacity of the lining of the artery to widen, allowing more blood flow. Poor endothelial function is an early sign of heart disease. The men were then divided into two groups. One group had standard treatment for periodontal disease, such as scraping and polishing the teeth. The other group got aggressive treatment, including removal of plaque below the gum line and extraction of teeth. When tested later, the men undergoing aggressive treatment had better endothelial function than the men who got standard treatment.
Scientific literature also shows that people with periodontal disease tend to have higher blood pressure and a greater risk of stroke.
