Gum Disease and Heart Disease: New Proof and What to Do Next

Gum disease and inflammation, also called periodontal disease, have been linked with an increased risk of heart disease and cardiac arrest for years. In fact, in 2005, scientists reported actually finding live oral bacteria in arterial plaque, the gunk that clogs arteries and leads to heart attacks. New findings show that the link between gum disease and heart disease is not so much particular pathogens, but the total number of bacteria generally present in the mouth. So, besides fresher breath and a winning smile, keeping your mouth clean can help keep your arteries clean.

Arterial plaque and live oral bacteria

I have to admit: as a person with a systemic inflammatory disease, when reports first began to link gum disease with heart disease, my reaction was pretty simple: "Duh." From where I was sitting (oops: read this later), it seemed obvious that out-of-control inflammation would show up in the body in a variety of ways. Gums, arteries . . . well, yeah.

When you live with inflammation, you get used to the fact that it can manifest itself in seemingly crazy ways all over the old bod---the gums (periodontal disease), or the knees (arthritis), or the arteries (resulting in arterial plaque, which leads to heart attack). So it didn't seem surprising that a person prone to inflammation in one place would also have it in another.

"B+" for me! No doubt it's true that a "broken" inflammatory process may manifest in various ways throughout the body. But that's not the "A" answer. This is: research shows that gum disease and heart disease are not just evidence of the same "broken" process. Rather, they are truly interconnected.

It's alive!

University of Florida scientists studying arterial plaque "cornered the bacterial ringleaders of gum disease inside human artery-clogging plaque." Thus, researchers found "the first concrete evidence to place the pathogens at the heart of the circulatory crime scene." Please note: not only were the oral bacteria found in the arterial plaque, the bacteria were living in the plaque.

I guess you can tell by all the text attributes that I find that fact not only gross, but amazing.

How do oral bacteria end up living inside your arteries?

Which all naturally leads to the question: how do oral bacteria end up living inside gunk clogging up your arteries? The answer is that I don't know. And, to be honest, I don't really want to know. I am quite content with simply knowing that: (1) it's not always the case that inflammation "just happens," and (2) oral hygiene matters. It really matters. I can handle that.

Should I call in The Exterminator?

Now, this does not mean that you have to pull out some kind of big guns to exterminate every microbe that even looks at your mouth. Scientists at the University of Buffalo found that "two oral pathogens in the mouth were associated with an increased risk of having a heart attack." But their real find was "that the total number of germs, regardless of type, was more important to heart health."

Frequent tooth brushing

Tooth brushing is a simple and efficient way to reduce the total number of bacteria in the mouth. And not only does that lower the risk of hardening of the arteries and cardiac problems, according to Tel Aviv University Department of Nursing, frequent tooth brushing lessens the risk of respiratory infections, such as pneumonia. Bonus!

Chewing gum (so long as you bring enough for everyone)

Xylitol, a sweetener found in raspberries and (get this) cauliflower, affects Streptococcus populations in the mouth. Streptococcus is a bacteria associated with tooth decay. When xylitol is introduced into the mouth, Strep does not reproduce as readily as it would otherwise. It also does not produce the acid that causes cavities.

Xylitol is used to sweeten chewing gums and candies, such as some gummy bears. The U.S. military provides xylitol-sweetened gum and candy to soldiers deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan to help prevent cavities and other dental disease.

If you want to use chewing gum to help reduce oral bacteria, LTC Jeffrey Chaffin, a dentist on the staff of The Army Surgeon General, says to check that "xylitol appears in the ingredients before gum base." That way , Chaffin explains, "you know that there is a sufficient amount of xylitol in that gum."

Gum disease, heart disease

New findings show that the link between gum inflammation and hardening of the arteries is mostly about the total number of bacteria generally present in the mouth. Less is better! To help keep your arteries clean, keep your mouth clean. Frequent tooth brushing and chewing gum with xylitol are simple steps which can pay off big in terms of your overall health.

*** More B. A. Rogers on inflammation-related subjects: Inhaled Steroids: Nasonex Nasal Spray Side Effects and Effectiveness and Rheumatoid Arthritis and Fatigue, Exhaustion, Listlessness: It Actually is In Your Head.

Sources:

"Live Oral Bacteria Found In Arterial Plaque," Science Daily.

"The More Oral Bacteria, The Higher The Risk Of Heart Attack, Study Shows," Science Daily.

Jerry Harben, "Deployed Soldiers Get Cavity-fighting Gum in Dining Facilities," Army Medicine.