| I
admit it. As my periodontist prepared to probe my gums with
a shiny Orwellian torture device, I was scared. Then he began
talking about gum disease and - I realized things could be
worse.
Studies increasingly show a connection between good gums and
good overall health. Gum disease (also known as periodontal
disease), has been linked to a variety of systemic health
problems, including heart disease and stroke.
Here's why periodontal disease may affect your overall
health. Periodontitis is infection of the gum, bone and
other tissues surrounding the tooth, caused by a build up
of tartar below the gum line. More than 350 types of bacteria
can flourish in the tartar (hardened plaque) on your teeth
and enter your blood stream directly through damaged and bleeding
gums. This invasion can create havoc throughout your body,
including your heart.
"An accumulating body of evidence suggests that periodontal
infection may contribute to arteriosclerotic heart diseases,"
says oral bacteria researcher Robert J. Genco, D.D.S., Ph.D.,
of the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Dental
Medicine. In a recent University of Michigan study involving
400 men 60 or older, researchers found that those suffering
from advanced periodontal disease were four and a half times
more likely to have coronary heart disease than those without
gum disease.
Why is periodontal disease so hard on your heart? Researchers
at SUNY at Buffalo have shown that people with gum disease
tend to have high blood levels of fibrinogen, a molecule which
can cause clotting and C-reactive protein, an inflammatory
molecule. The study reported in the February 2000 American
Journal of Epidemiology also found that people with periodontal
disease might have higher levels of cholesterol.
Periodontal disease increases your risk of stroke.
The same molecules that affect your heart can also block the
blood flow to your brain, increasing your risk of stroke.
A 1999 preliminary study at the Columbia University College
of Physicians and Surgeons found that people with diseased
gums tended to have more plaque in their carotid (neck) arteries.
Those with the most diseased gums had 1.12 millimeters of
build-up in their artery lining, compared with 0.74 millimeters
for those with the healthiest gums. That's not good, since
the National Stroke Association estimates that clots or blockages
cause 80% of all strokes - one reason why neurologists should
keep an eye on their patients teeth.
Diabetes, Osteoporosis, Respiratory problems and regular
dental visits. Diabetics should also schedule regular
dental visits. Researchers at the Texas A&M University
Health Science Center have found that uncontrolled diabetes
can lead to a higher risk of gum disease, which, in turn,
can make diabetes more problematic by reducing the body's
ability to regulate blood sugar levels. The increased bacteria
load in the body caused by periodontal disease has also been
linked to osteoporosis and respiratory problems.
Why this is good news for your health and your doctor.
There is an upside to all of this. Dentists and doctors
are increasingly checking their patients mouths for early
signs of hypertension, heart disease and diabetes. At the
University of Alabama at Birmingham, researchers are studying
whether dental x-rays of bones around the jaw can help predict
the onset of osteoporosis elsewhere in the body leading to
earlier diagnosis. In early 2001 dental organizations, physicians
and biologists plan to convene at the National Institutes
of Health in Bethesda Maryland, to review the latest research
linking gum infection and chronic diseases of the body.
For now, there is little mystery about how to care for your
gums. With conscientious brushing, consistent flossing, and
semi-annual dental visits, gum disease can usually be prevented
or controlled. In addition, if you need to visit the periodontist,
don't be afraid. Today's gum treatments are more pain-free
than you think and far better than the alternative of heart
disease and stroke.
Redacted From
Your Gums or Your Life: The key to a healthy heart is dental
floss?
By Richard Stinson: Modern Maturity Magazine: July-August
2000
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