By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    HIPPA compliance
    How Medical Office Staff Can Make Your Practice HIPAA Compliant
    October 29, 2021
    Everything you need to know about hyaluronic acid treatment
    Everything you need to know about hyaluronic acid treatment
    February 10, 2022
    Which Mushroom Capsules Are Good for Your Health?
    May 5, 2022
    Latest News
    Ostomy Tips To Be Active And Healthy
    February 8, 2023
    Exploring Healthcare Solutions after Amputation Injury
    February 8, 2023
    What To Expect On A Meditation Retreat In Miami
    February 6, 2023
    Botanical Extracts That Should be on Your Health Radar
    February 5, 2023
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Pharmacists help you
    How A Pharmacist Can Help You
    November 28, 2022
    Response to Austin Frakt
    September 9, 2017
    Medicare by the Numbers
    April 18, 2011
    Latest News
    Why Is a Referenced Based Pricing Tool Necessary?
    February 3, 2023
    Simplifying the Genetic Testing Process: How At-Home Kits are Changing the Game
    January 25, 2023
    9 Hospitals That Have Introduced Green Initiatives
    February 1, 2023
    Why a Health Retreat Can Be the Best Medicine
    January 12, 2023
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Your Gums and Your Heart -What’s the Connection?
Share
Sign In
Notification Show More
Latest News
Diagnostic Tools for doctors
7 Essential Diagnostic Tools Used by Doctors
Diagnostics
Ostomy Tips
Ostomy Tips To Be Active And Healthy
Health
nursing career adopt
Ways to Boost Your Nursing Career and Get Promoted
Nursing
advancement in nursing career
5 Ways to Advance Your Nursing Career
Nursing
healthcare workers with gloves
Tips to Keep Health Workers Safe in the Workplace
Hospital Administration
Aa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Aa
Search
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Specialties > Cardiology > Your Gums and Your Heart -What’s the Connection?
CardiologyPublic Health

Your Gums and Your Heart -What’s the Connection?

Dov Michaeli
Last updated: 2012/04/18 at 10:20 AM
Dov Michaeli
Share
5 Min Read
SHARE

 

 

An ounce of prevention

More Read

Dental Implants: 6 Reasons Why They Can Be A Beneficial Choice

There’s No Mental Health Without Oral Health
Dental Implant Failure: Possible Causes and Prevention
Make Cleaning Your Kid’s Teeth Easier With These Tips
5 Reasons to Consider All-on-4 Dental Implants

 

 

 

An ounce of prevention

 

Amazingly, there is an intimate connection! Studies have shown that periodontal disease increases your risk of coronary heart disease by 50%, fatal coronary disease by 90%, and stroke by 180%! How does that happen?

Inflammation: the common culprit.

When the dental hygienist pokes your gums with a sharp needle she is looking for inflammation. If the gums (or gingiva in dentistrese) are inflamed they become soft and squishy because the inflammtory process allows plasma to escape from the blood vessels surrounding the tooth. The increased permeability is the result of white cells congregating at the site and doing what they are supposed to do: releasing inflammatory mediators, such as interleukins, TNFα.

The unvarnished truth is that our collective mouth is foul. And that’s not because we use foul language but because it is colonized with billions of bacteria. In fact, over 500 species make their home in the oral cavity, many of them are of the gram negative type. These are the bacteria that inhabit, sorry for the unappetizing subject matter, foul-smelling abscesses.

As true believers in natural selection we might wonder: wouldn’t some defense against those bugs confer a selective advantage? Researchers observed monkeys and apes use small sticks they break off a tree as tooth-picks. Since they never heard of oral hygiene this behavioral pattern must have been transmitted from one generation to the next beecause some ancient ancestors observied that they could chew food a lot longer, and hence live longer, if they cleaned their teeth. same is true for some isolated tribes in the Amazon basin: they clean their teeth with toothbrushes fashioned out of plants.

Still, why is it that the older a person is the more dental problems he or she may have? Why is gum and bone loss an old person’s affliction?

Now we are getting to the interesting science of the mouth (are you excited yet?).

When the dental hygienist pokes your gums with a sharp needle she is looking for inflammation. If the gums (or gingiva in dentistrese) are inflamed they become soft and squishy because the inflammtory process allows plasma to escape from the blood vessels surrounding the tooth. The increased permeability is the result of white cells (neutrophils) congregating at the site and doing what they are supposed to do: releasing inflammatory mediators, such as interleukins and TNFα.

Mehmet Eskan and his colleagues in London college, in collaboration with groups in the U.S., reveal that the deterioration in gum health which often occurs with increasing age is associated with a drop in the level of a peptide called Del-1. This peptide inhibits the inflammatory activity of IL-17, an interleukin. So when DL-1 levels drop, IL-17 runs amok and the ensuing inflammation basically dissolves the gum tissue and the underlying bone, in which the tooth is embedded. Result: toothless older people.

Why is it important?

The curious phenomenon of older people developing gum and bone disease, whereas younger ones having the same bacterial flora, the same inflammatory response to gingival bacterial colonization, by and large escape with little damage, was not well understood. The facile explanation was “wear and tear”; the oral tissue “got worn down”, too tired to fight back. This is the first time that a rational explanation backed by data is offered. Now scientists can embark on a rational search for drugs that would either stimulate DL-1 production or mimic its action.

We marvel at the connectedness of everything alive. How could periodontal disease be possibly connected to coronary disease and stroke? The answer was: inflammation. This is true as far as it goes, but it doesn’t tell us specifically how. Now we know that poetic-sounding concepts such as ”everything is connected” do not need to remain metaphysical; they have a rational molecular basis.

What can we do?

Not much different from what we have been doing: floss, brush at least twice a day, avoid sweets, don’t smoke, and visit your dentist twice a year for preventive care.

 

TAGGED: coronary disease, dental care, gums

Sign Up For Daily Newsletter

Be keep up! Get the latest breaking news delivered straight to your inbox.
By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
Dov Michaeli April 18, 2012
Share this Article
Facebook Twitter Copy Link Print
Share
Previous Article “Import-O-Matic” Revolutionizes Image Viewing at UAB
Next Article Quality of Life for Disabled Elderly Tied to Dignity and Autonomy

Stay Connected

1.5k Followers Like
4.5k Followers Follow
2.8k Followers Pin
136k Subscribers Subscribe

Latest News

Diagnostic Tools for doctors
7 Essential Diagnostic Tools Used by Doctors
Diagnostics February 8, 2023
Ostomy Tips
Ostomy Tips To Be Active And Healthy
Health February 8, 2023
nursing career adopt
Ways to Boost Your Nursing Career and Get Promoted
Nursing February 8, 2023
advancement in nursing career
5 Ways to Advance Your Nursing Career
Nursing February 8, 2023

You Might also Like

regrow teeth naturally
Dental health

Advances in Stem Cell Research Can Help Regrow Teeth Naturally

February 1, 2023
digital dental x-ray
Dental health

How Does A Digital Dental X-Ray Work?

January 25, 2023
Health carePublic Health

Do You Need Life Insurance? What Does It Cover?

December 23, 2022
dental veneers benefits
Dental healthSpecialties

What Are the Benefits of Dental Veneers and How Do They Work?

December 8, 2022
//

We influence million of users and is the most authentic source of information on healthcare business and technology news.

Quick Links

  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Subscribe

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

Follow US

© 2008-2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.

Removed from reading list

Undo
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?