Many studies demonstrate a link between dental health, especially periodontal health, and heart disease. Here is a sample of the quality and breadth of such papers.
Heart attacks occur when blood flow through the arteries that supply oxygen and nutrients to the heart muscle slows. This happens when accretions, or plaques, grow within arteries (atherosclerosis). The study, "Periodontal Microbiota and Carotid Intima-Media Thickness" by Moise Desvarieux, et. al. (Circulation. 2005;111:576-582), demonstrates a commonality between the bacteria that cause periodontal disease and the bacteria in arterial plaque, the cause of heart disease.
A study by investigators of the State University of New York at Buffalo ("American Dental Association News" in June, 2004), comparing nearly 600 heart attack survivors to nearly 900 randomly chosen subjects found a strong relationship between periodontal disease and heart attack in subjects under 55 years old. This was independent of tobacco use.
A June 2007 study in the "British Dental Journal" ("Periodontal disease as a risk factor for acute myocardial infarction") recommends further study to prove the link.
A Japanese study published in the "Journal of Periodontology" in June 2004 demonstrates that people with moderate gum disease are more likely to have electro-cardiographic (ECG) abnormalities than those with healthy gums.
Complementary studies search for what it is about periodontal disease that increases the likelihood of heart disease. C-reactive protein (CRP) is a marker for inflammation. While many studies show that high levels of CRP are a common characteristic of heart disease and poor dental health, research has not yet proved a causal relationship.
Endotoxins are chemicals released by bacteria. Studies such as "Systemic Release of Endotoxins Induced by Gentle Mastication: Association With Periodontitis Severity," ("Journal of Periodontology," January 2002, Vol. 73, No. 1, Pages 73-78), demonstrate that those infected with severe periodontal disease maintain a higher level of these heart damaging compounds in the blood.
Regular dental care lowers the level of both C-reactive protein and endotoxins. Unfortunately, more research is necessary to show that improving dental health care lessens the likelihood of heart disease. Even so, the comparative ease of maintaining oral health with good hygiene (brushing and flossing) and regular dental health care visits seams a small price to wager for the possibility of decreasing heart disease.
Author: Dr. David Leader
© 2008 Associated Content