Experiencing Pain and Inflammation? Don't Ignore This Significant Factor

Overview

“Facing death due to a seemingly minor issue was unimaginable to me.”

Helen Bolton, a UK resident from Cornwall, narrowly survived a life-threatening situation just a few months ago in December 2016 after undergoing an extensive 11½ hour surgery.

The seemingly insignificant problem that almost took her life was a small cyst in her mouth. Left untreated, it led to infective endocarditis, a serious heart condition with fatal consequences.

So, what could be silently endangering your life within your mouth?

Various health issues in the body have been associated with oral health. Maintaining the health of your teeth and gums is crucial for overall well-being.

Oral Health and Heart Disease Connection

The concept that oral infections could contribute to diseases in other parts of the body was initially proposed by dentist Willoughby D. Miller back in 1891.

In the past, this idea gained popularity with both doctors and dentists recommending tooth extraction as a preventive measure against systemic diseases. For example, it was not uncommon for rheumatologists to suggest tooth removal as a treatment for arthritis.

However, this notion lost credibility due to lack of evidence for almost four decades until a groundbreaking paper by Finnish doctors was published in the British Medical Journal in 1989.

Subsequently, another study involving nearly 10,000 participants was published in the same journal in 1993, revealing that individuals with gum disease (periodontitis) had a 25% higher risk of developing coronary heart disease compared to those with minimal or no gum disease.

In 1996, Dr. Steven Offenbacher from the University of North Carolina School of Dentistry proposed the establishment of a new discipline called Periodontal Medicine to investigate the correlation between oral diseases and systemic health issues.

Impact of Mouth Micro-Organisms on Blood Circulation

Gingivitis is characterized by red, swollen, and bleeding gums. While this condition is reversible, if left untreated, it can progress to periodontitis, a more severe oral health issue.

In periodontitis, bacterial biofilm (dental plaque) forms continuously on the teeth, leading to decay of gum and bone tissues. The bacteria and toxins produced by this biofilm spread beneath the gum line, causing chronic inflammation and tooth loosening.

In healthy mouths, connective tissues and blood capillaries act as barriers. However, in cases of gingivitis and periodontitis, these tissues become ulcerated, allowing bacteria to enter the bloodstream directly.

These bacteria, along with their toxins and the body's inflammatory responses, can result in long-term harm throughout the body.

Association Between Gum Disease and Various Health Conditions

There are now over 500 scientific papers suggesting a link between gum disease and heart disease.

Similarly, periodontal disease is recognized as a risk factor for...

• stroke
• diabetes
• pre-term low birth weight babies
• pre-eclampsia
• respiratory infections
• osteoporosis
• cancer
• rheumatoid arthritis
• erectile dysfunction
• gastrointestinal disease
• prostatitis
• kidney diseases
• Alzheimer’s disease

Considering that up to nine out of ten individuals worldwide experience periodontal disease, with nearly half of American adults over 30 years old affected, these connections are alarming.

Maintaining Oral Health

Despite substantial evidence, the American Heart Association (AHA) released a statement in 2012 acknowledging a correlation between gum disease and heart attacks or strokes but highlighting the lack of conclusive evidence.

They were not swayed by existing research or a 2007 study in the New England Journal of Medicine

In 2016, a study published in Circulation involving over 800 patients clearly indicated that gum disease significantly raised the risk of a first heart attack by almost 50%.