The Periodontal Health, Heart Health Connection

What’s Good For Your Heart

Periodontal Health Linked to Heart Health

More and more, patients and practitioners are realizing that good at-home oral health habits are important for more than just nice-looking teeth. Keeping teeth healthy and clean is also important for maintaining good heart health.

According to a recent study published in the Journal of Periodontology, people with periodontal disease are at a higher risk for developing cardiovascular disease than those with healthy gums. The study found that study participants with gum disease had higher levels of harmful bacteria in the bloodstream – up to four times more than study participants with healthy gums.

Researchers at Columbia University School of Public Health found similar results, reinforcing doctors’ longstanding belief that periodontal health is directly linked to cardiovascular health.

Columbia University researchers looked at three forms of bacteria common in patients with gum disease and found that patients with one or any combination of the three bacteria also had hardening of the arteries.

These are just two examples of dozens of ongoing studies that continue to link good oral health with good heart health.
Patient education is key in this area, since the average patient will simply assume that brushing and flossing teeth is only essential to maintaining healthy teeth and gums. Incentive to be more proactive at brushing and flossing may increase should patients have a better understanding of how their oral health affects their overall health, including the link between periodontal health and heart health.

It’s a simple formula – good oral care can help maintain a healthy heart.

Periodontal Bacteria Linked to Respiratory Illness

Brushing Teeth As Important as Washing Hands to Avoid Respiratory Infections

Periodontal Bacteria Linked to Respiratory Illness

If you want to avoid getting a respiratory infection, be sure to wash your hands frequently, right? Simply washing hands isn’t the only way to keep respiratory infections at bay. Experts say that brushing teeth plays a major factor in avoiding respiratory infections.

According to the American Academy of Periodontology, periodontal disease of is contributing factor for respiratory diseases, noting that the bacteria that cause periodontal disease also negatively impact the immune system.

Bacterial respiratory infections are thought to be acquired through aspiration of fine droplets from the mouth and throat into the lungs. These droplets contain germs that can breed and multiply within the lungs to cause damage. Recent research suggests that bacteria found in the throat, as well as bacteria found in the mouth, can be drawn into the lower respiratory tract. This can cause infections or worsen existing lung conditions. People with respiratory diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, typically suffer from reduced protective systems, making it difficult to eliminate bacteria from the lungs.

The American Academy of Periodontology reported that, “Scientists have found that bacteria that grow in the oral cavity can be aspirated into the lung to cause respiratory diseases such as pneumonia, especially in people with periodontal disease. This discovery leads researchers to believe that these respiratory bacteria can travel from the oral cavity into the lungs to cause infection.”

The bacteria that are multiplying in the mouth are not only being used as factories for the viruses but are also being breathed into the susceptible lungs.

The same care that is necessary for avoiding periodontal disease – twice daily brushing and once daily flossing – is necessary for helping to lower the risk of respiratory infections in those with periodontal disease.

Study Links Hypertension, Periodontal Bacteria

More Research Regarding the Relationship Between Oral Health and Cardiovascular Health

Study Links Hypertension, Periodontal Bacteria

The hundreds of bacteria in the human mouth are there for a reason. Many of them are completely innocuous bacteria that like the conditions of the human mouth – it is, after all, warm, dark and wet, which are ideal conditions for growing many types of bacteria.

A handful of the bacteria in the mouth help support the health of teeth and gums. Another handful of bacteria found in the human mouth can be harmful not only to oral health, but to the health of the body as a whole.

Researchers believe that the true link between oral health and heart health lies in the balance of those bacteria.
A recent study published in the May 5, 2010 edition of the Journal of Hypertension revealed that those with significantly higher levels of periodontal bacteria in plaque samples of those with hypertension.

Seven investigators from Columbia University, the University of Miami, the University of Minnesota, and the French School of Public Health collected 4,533 subgingival plaque samples from 653 patients enrolled in the Oral Infections and Vascular Disease Epidemiology Study (INVEST). They analyzed the samples for the presence of 11 different species of periodontal bacteria, including Actinomyces naeslundii and Prevotella intermedia.

The researchers, led by Moise Desvarieux, M.D., Ph.D., found that the odds ratio for prevalent hypertension was 3.05 among the patients in the highest tertile of bacterial burden compared to those in the lowest tertile.

The team found that, after adjusting for conventional risk factors, the mean systolic blood pressure increased significantly with increasing cumulative bacterial burden, at 136, 138, and 143 mmHg for the first, second, and third tertile, respectively (p = 0.0004). The diastolic blood pressure also increased significantly, at 77, 79, and 81 mmHg, respectively.

The prevalence of hypertension was 57%, 62%, and 68%, respectively. This translated into more than threefold higher odds of hypertension between the third and first tertiles; after further adjustment for white blood cell count and titer of hs-CRP, this rose to 3.93. The increase between the first and third tertiles in both hypertension and diastolic blood pressure was more than twice as large for men as for women, while the increase in systolic blood pressure was nearly three times as large in men.

Have You Heard of Oral Care Probiotics?

When Someone Asks…

Have You Heard of Oral Care Probiotics?

Our bodies are homes to thousands of bacteria. Many of those bacteria simply live in and on our bodies because they are simply a convenient environment in which to live. Some of the bacteria in and on our bodies can be harmful (think of skin infections) while still others are beneficial (think of how bacteria in the gut are said to aid in digestion).

Probiotics are live microbial organisms that are naturally present throughout the body. They are often referred to as “beneficial” or “good” bacteria. Because there are bacterial colonies throughout the body, there are different types of probiotics to support good health.

Oral Care Probiotics

There has been much media attention given to the effectiveness of probiotics of to assist in digestion. So, too, are there probiotics that can help support gum and tooth health by competing with harmful bacteria for both nutrients and space in the mouth. In doing so, oral care probiotics also help eliminate the bacteria that creates the volatile sulfur compounds responsible for bad breath.

Oral care probiotics are available in the convenient, easy-to-use, travel-friendly form of mints to be taken twice per day after brushing. Called EvoraPlus, these probiotic mints are available at many major retailers and online.

EvoraPlus also offers a completely safe and natural way to gently whiten teeth to their maximum potential by producing a byproduct of a continuous low dose of natural hydrogen peroxide. Because it is such a low dose of hydrogen peroxide, there are none of the negative side effects associated with using other over-the-counter whitening products, which instead employ high doses of harsh, chemical hydrogen peroxide.

EvoraPlus oral care probiotics offer a cutting edge solution for tooth and gum health, fresher breath and naturally whiter teeth.

Study Links Periodontal Disease, Cognition

Tooth Loss, Cavities, Gingivitis, Periodontal Disease All Linked to Lower Process of Thought

Study Links Periodontal Disease, Cognition

Researchers at Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) released a definitive link between tooth loss/periodontal disease to cognitive decline in one of the largest and longest prospective studies on the topic to date, released in this month’s issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

In what could be called ground-breaking research in the fields of dementia and Alzheimer’s, Dr. Elizabeth Krall Kaye looked for patterns in dental records from 1970 to 1973 to determine if periodontal disease and tooth loss predicted whether people did well or poorly on cognitive tests. She found that for each tooth lost per decade, the risk of doing poorly increased approximately eight to 10 percent.

More cavities usually meant lower cognition – or the process of thought – too. People with no tooth loss tended to do better on the tests.

Dr. Kaye suggests that doctors whose patients are testing poorly for cognitive standards may want to consider dental health. “The findings should also give dentists yet another reason to prevent tooth loss and periodontal disease and encourage patients to do as much as they can to prevent dental disease,” she explained.

With both periodontal disease and dementia/Alzheimer’s incidence rising sharply as Baby Boomers age, these findings could change the future of the hundreds of thousands of people predicted to develop Alzheimer’s and dementia in the next several decades.

Researchers Link Prostate Problems with Periodontal Disease

Inflammation May Be Connection Between Two Common Conditions

Researchers Link Prostate Problems with Periodontal Disease

According to researchers from Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine and University Hospitals Case Medical Center, gum disease may be linked to prostate problems, reports a study recently published in the Journal of Periodontology , the official journal of the American Academy of Periodontology.

The researchers concluded that both conditions, periodontal disease and prostatitis both cause inflammation, which may be the link between the conditions.

“Subjects with both high CAL levels and moderate to severe prostatitis have higher levels of PSA or inflammation,” stated Nabil Bissada, chair of the department of periodontics in the dental school.

Because periodontitis has been linked to heart disease, diabetes and other illnesses associated with aging, the researchers believed a link might exist to prostate disease.

Thirty-five men from a sample of 150 patients qualified for the study, funded by the department of periodontology at the dental school. The participants were selected from patients at the University Hospitals Case Medical Center with mild to severe prostatitis, who had undergone needle biopsies and were found to have inflammation and in some patients, malignancies.

The participants were divided into two groups: those with high PSA levels for moderate or severe prostatitis or a malignancy and those with PSA levels below 4 ng/ml. All had not had dental work done for at least three months and were given an examination to measure the gum health.

Looking at the results, the researchers from the dental school and the department of urology and the Institute of Pathology at the hospital found those with the most severe form of the prostatitis also showed signs for periodontitis.

What the research failed to uncover is how, aside from inflammation, the two conditions are related.

Study Finds Omega-3 Fatty Acid Consumption Lowers Risk of Periodontal Disease

Eating Fatty, Cold Water Fish Can Lower Inflammation, Even in the Gingival Tissues

Study Finds Omega-3 Fatty Acid Consumption Lowers Risk of Periodontal Disease

The Journal Nutrition recently reported that Japanese researchers found that high EPA (eicosaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid Omega-3 levels inversely correlated with progression of periodontal disease in older people.

Periodontal diseases are those diseases that affect one or more of the periodontal tissues – which are tissues that both surround and support the teeth. While many different diseases affect the tooth-supporting structures and tissues, plaque-induced inflammatory lesions make up the vast majority of periodontal diseases. Bacteria in plaque around the teeth slowly damage and erode the gum tissues. The infected gums undergo inflammation and can eventually lead to tooth loss.

The study was conducted on 55 74-year-old participants whose dietary intakes were analyzed and on whom dental examinations were conducted annually for the duration of the 5-year-study.

The results of the study found that the participants who had low levels of DHA experienced more periodontal disease during the study.

Good Sources of Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Salmon, flax seeds and walnuts are excellent sources of omega-3 fatty acids. Very good sources of these healthy fats include scallops, cauliflower, cabbage, cloves and mustard seeds. Good sources of these fats include halibut, shrimp, cod, tuna, soybeans, tofu, kale, collard greens, and Brussels sprouts.

Studies have proven that a relatively small number of omega-3 food sources can have a measurable impact on your blood levels of omega-3s, including those two key omega-3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA. For example, two weekly servings of a non-fried, omega-3 containing fish (like wild-caught Pacific salmon) is enough to boost your blood levels of omega-3s.

Omega-3 supplements are also an excellent way to boost blood levels of EPA and DHA, but quality is always a concern when purchasing supplements. A quality name brand should be sought when purchasing these supplements as lower quality supplements are more likely to have high levels of mercury, a known neurotoxin.

Science at the Service of the Person

An Interview with Dr. Jeffrey Hillman of Oragenics

By Deacon Keith Fournier
5/14/2010
Catholic Online

In 2008 the Congregation for the Doctrine of the faith in the Catholic Church issued their instruction on the “Dignity of the Human Person.” It began with these words “The dignity of a person must be recognized in every human being from conception to natural death. This fundamental principle expresses a great ‘yes’ to human life and must be at the center of ethical reflection on biomedical research, which has an ever greater importance in today’s world.”

The instruction offers “…a word of support and encouragement for the perspective on culture which considers science an invaluable service to the integral good of the life and dignity of every human being. The Church therefore views scientific research with hope and desires that many Christians will dedicate themselves to the progress of biomedicine and will bear witness to their faith in this field. She hopes moreover that the results of such research may also be made available in areas of the world that are poor and afflicted by disease, so that those who are most in need will receive humanitarian assistance.”

As someone who believes deeply that the Catholic Church gives a great “Yes to Life” I am “on the lookout” for men, women and organizations who view science this way. One of the often repeated fallacies one reads in the media is that the Catholic Church opposes Stem Cell research. The truth is the Church opposes deadly stem cell research such as research on human embryos which always results in taking the life of the embryonic human person. It is immoral to take innocent human life even if one can then use parts of the human person who has been killed to develop a potential cure for another.

The Church wholeheartedly supports research on Adult Stem Cells and cells derived from fetal cord blood. Neither type of stem cell research results in the taking of innocent human lives. They also show tremendous promise! As an example of the encouragement of life affirming stem cell research, a spokesman for the Vatican recently made known their strong support for the research being conducted at the University Of Maryland School Of Medicine using adult stem cells.

As a father of five grown children and grandfather to six, I am well aware of the many needs involved in raising healthy children.  That includes their moral, emotional, spiritual and physical health. Of course, their physical health includes their oral hygiene. Research shows the connection between overall health and good oral hygiene.  As a 55 year old man who lost my father to heart disease, I am sensitized to that subject. I was surprised years ago to find the connection between oral and heart disease.

Dental disease is a quiet, yet growing, national epidemic.  New studies, including recently-published reports from the Mayo Clinic, confirm that periodontal disease and poor oral health are linked to heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, and other illnesses.  American Dental Association studies show that three out of four of Americans are affected by periodontal disease at some point in their lives. My friend, Catholic Online’s own Dr. Denton, has taught me much about an integrative approach to health which respects the unity of the human person, body, soul and spirit. He has helped me understand the connection between overall health and what he calls “beautiful living.”

I recently became interested in the science of probiotics which respects the amazing curative qualities of our own body. There are both good and bad bacteria in our systems all the time. The good bacteria are the most effective way to minimize the damaging effects of the bad bacteria. We have seen the application of probiotics in the growing number of products, including yogurt, which promote overall digestive health.

Recently I read of an extraordinary application of probiotics in oral health. It was developed by Dr. Jeffrey Hillman, D.M.D., Ph.D. It is the result of more than 25 years of research which began at the Harvard-affiliated Forsyth Institute in Boston and continued at the University of Florida. The technology has only recently become available for the general public. It provides what is called Replacement Therapy for preventing dental caries or cavities.

I sought an interview with Dr. Hillman through a mutual friend. He gladly assented. I found this him to be humble, self effacing, approachable and genuinely committed to good science at the service of the human person and the common good. His academic and professional credentials are extraordinary. However, what really impressed me was his dedication to his work. He told me “People tend to take a simple approach to oral care in our culture. We think in terms of killing all of the bacteria that are present in the mouth. But it’s just not that simple; the human mouth contains many … types of bacteria, including some that are helpful to us.”

It made a lot of sense to me. As the interview progressed I saw the myriad of applications of the Doctor’s discovery. He holds over a dozen patents and has spent his career trying to alleviate suffering. He told me “tooth decay is the most common infectious disease in the world.” I had never really considered that fact. Now, every morning as I brush my teeth I think of it.

I was intrigued when the good Doctor told me he was inspired by Louis Pasteur. Like Pasteur, Dr. Hillman is serious about the potential of science to lessen human suffering. The faith of Pasteur drove his scientific genius toward the good. Above his tomb in the Pasteur Institute are engraved these words “Happy the man who bears within him a divinity, an ideal of beauty and obeys it; an ideal of art, and ideal of science, an ideal of country, and ideal of the virtues of the Gospel.” It is reported that Pasteur died with a rosary in his hand after listening to the life of St. Vincent de Paul.

Dr. Hillman was impressed with the scientists’ genuine humanism and Pasteur’s discovery that there are good bacteria which might one day be used to fight bad bacteria. Pasteur’s scientific discoveries have led to many scientific advances.  Dr. Hillman told me that his idea of expanding probiotic science, the use of good bacteria to combat the bad, in the arena of oral health care was “like a light bulb going off in my head.” He has dedicated over thirty years to this project.

His father told him “If we can succeed in preventing tooth decay we can apply it to other bacteria” and he set about to do just that. In our extensive interview he explained it to me, a non-scientist, in this very understandable way, “The human body is extraordinarily complex. There are 1,000 or more different types of bacteria. They don’t want to hurt us. We feed them, we clothe them, and we take them to the movies. There are relatively few bacteria which can hurt us. We are simply helping the body by improving on the marvelous design, to prevent them from doing so.”

Doctor Hillman has patented his discoveries and now makes it all available in a line of oral health care products for adults and children.  I also heard of the unique business relationship which has been entered into to distribute the products. The Florida-based biotechnology company Oragenics, Inc., (OTCBB:ORNI) and RICCI PHARMA, a recognized health products company with offices in Rome and Slovakia, have entered into a distribution agreement that the parties anticipate will provide Oragenics’ proprietary oral care probiotic products, EvoraPlus® and EvoraKids^TM, to RICCI PHARMA.

RICCI PHARMA will then  have exclusive distribution rights through Duc in Altum, a foundation whose humanitarian projects are inspired by the social teachings of the late Pope John Paul II. Duc in Altum’s honorary chairman is the Polish Pope’s former private secretary for over 30 years, Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, currently Archbishop of Krakow. The foundation, whose projects are known by the Holy See and encouraged by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, is expected to further promote Oragenics’ products with the Church’s capillary network of health services.

When the interview ended I was happy to have discovered one more dedicated medical professional promoting science at the service of the human person and the common good.

Bad Breath Linked to Bacteria Responsible for Ulcers, Cancer

More Than Halitosis

Bad Breath Linked to Bacteria Responsible for Ulcers, Cancer

New research from Japan has found a link between bad breath and the bacteria that causes stomach ulcers and cancer.

The study, which was published in the Journal of Medical Microbiology, revealed that the bacteria responsible for both stomach ulcers and cancer were found in the mouths of some people with halitosis.

Research has revealed that infection by the bacterium Helicobacter pylori, which is carried by more than 90 percent of people in the developing world and 20 to 80 percent of people in the developed world, was a possible cause of peptic ulcers and gastric cancers.

The more recent study produced by Dr Nao Suzuki from Fukuoka Dental College in Fukuoka, Japan and colleagues, suggested that the human mouth, which is home to hundreds different species of bacteria (some of which cause disease), is a possible reservoir for H. pylori, particularly in the presence of periodontal disease, a known cause of halitosis.

According to Suzuki, halitosis is common in humans and is mostly caused by gum disease, debris on the tongue and poor oral hygiene.

Suzuki and his colleagues tested patients complaining of halitosis for the presence of H. pylori, studying DNA scans of saliva taken from hundreds of citizens, many of whom had halitosis.

Of the participants 102 had periodontal disease, 16 percent of whom had H. pylori in their mouths.

These results led researchers to conclude that deep periodontal pockets and inflammation create favorable conditions for the growth of H. pylori bacteria.

This research means that patients with periodontal disease coupled with halitosis should be tested for H. pylori infection.

Green Tea Reduces Inflammation, Increases Periodontal Health

Green Tea Reduces Inflammation

Green tea – a beverage already touted to have numerous health benefits, including boosting weight loss and improving heart health – can put another notch in its belt.

A 2009 study published by the Journal of Periodontology, uncovered yet another benefit of green tea consumption. In a study conducted at Kyushu University in Fukuoka, Japan, researchers found that drinking green tea may promote healthy teeth and gums. Researchers studied the gum health of 940 men and found that those who often consumed green tea had better periodontal health than those who consumed it less.

Green Tea Anti-Inflammatory Properties

Researchers suspect that green tea’s anti-inflammatory properties contribute to periodontal health. Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the gums and bone supporting the teeth. This inflammatory condition is fueled by an overgrowth of harmful bacteria in the mouth.

This is big news, as periodontal disease has been associated
with the progression of other diseases such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

In addition to green tea, oral probiotics can help keep harmful bacteria in check by supporting the population of beneficial bacteria in the mouth. These beneficial bacteria compete with
the harmful bacteria for both nutrients and space on the teeth and below the gum line, effectively pushing out harmful bacteria.

With periodontal disease becoming more and more common as we age, pairing oral care probiotics with green tea sounds like a good plan for great health!

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