Brush your teeth and floss – for your own good!
Caries and periodontal disease are the two biggest threats to dental health. The latter occur as a result of infection and lead to inflammation of the gum tissue that supports the teeth. At an early stage of the disease, called gingivitis, the gums swell, redden and bleed, and at a later stage (periodontitis), the gum begins to move away from the tooth, which is fraught with loosening of the teeth and their subsequent loss. But this is not the worst. As shown by the results of recently published studies, periodontitis can lead to diseases of the joints and heart. This is due to repeated damage to the oral mucosa – due to inflammation of the gums, bacteria enter the bloodstream, which leads to chronic inflammation in the body. Periodontal disease is also associated with a wide range of adverse health outcomes, from depression to dementia and pancreatic cancer.
Oral diseases
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), almost 3.5 billion people suffer from oral diseases. At the same time, treatment is expensive and in many countries is not included in the compulsory health insurance program (CHI). And while dental and gum disease is largely preventable, it poses a serious threat to lifelong health.
Most often, infectious diseases, sugar, tobacco and alcohol consumption lead to problems with the health of teeth and gums. Experts also point to the lack of fluoride in personal care products (such as toothpaste), as well as the abundance of foods high in sugar. In addition to caries and periodontitis, the most common oral diseases are oral cancer, stomatitis, and erosion of tooth enamel.
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It is estimated that about 19% of the adult population of the world suffers from severe periodontal disease, accounting for more than 1 billion cases worldwide.
But back to gum disease. According to the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC), gingivitis and periodontitis are most common in men (56.4% versus 38.4% in women), people with less than a secondary education (66.9%), and tobacco users (64. 2%). In Russia, chronic inflammatory diseases of periodontal tissues among the adult population has reached a record high of 98%. Thus, according to statistics, 86% of adults and 65% of children suffer from periodontal disease.
Periodontal and joint diseases
Periodontal disease affects the tissues surrounding the tooth and is characterized by bleeding, swollen gums (gingivitis), pain, and bad breath. As the disease progresses, the gum tissue recedes, exposing the neck of the tooth, which, if left untreated, can lead to tooth loss. Specialists have long known about the relationship between periodontitis, diseases of the joints and the cardiovascular system, but it was only recently possible to identify a clear correlation.
For example, a team of scientists from Stanford University found that oral bacteria enter the bloodstream, triggering the production of antibodies that attack both microbial invaders and healthy proteins in a person’s joints. You can see the results of scientific work in the journal Science Translational Medicine.
Ревматоидный артрит представляет собой хроническое аутоиммунное заболевание суставов, из-за которого развивается системное поражение внутренних органов.
Arthritis can have different symptoms and lead to different consequences.
Although rheumatoid arthritis is only one of several diseases associated with periodontal disease, it is more common in the latter. The results of the work of scientists from Stanford University showed that repeated damage to the oral mucosa leads to inflammation in the body, since bacteria enter the bloodstream.
To test this theory, the team determined whether patients with rheumatoid arthritis and periodontal disease (group one) were more vulnerable to oral bacterial invasion than rheumatoid arthritis patients with healthy gums (group two). By collecting and comparing blood samples from five subjects from both groups, the researchers found that people with gum disease had higher levels of oral bacteria.
Больше по теме: Как и чем надо чистить зубы. Спорим, не знали?
Acute arthritis begins with sudden inflammation and swelling of the tissues at the site of the affected joint and is accompanied by painful movements, limiting them.
A series of previous studies have also shown that patients with rheumatoid arthritis and periodontal disease suffer from frequent flare-ups of arthritis – periods of worsening symptoms during which medication does not seem to help – compared to patients with rheumatoid arthritis and healthy gums. Indeed, the results showed that patients with gingivitis (periodontitis) have a higher level of expression of cytokine genes associated with inflammation and antibody production.
Oral bacteria often precede the onset of arthritis and are thought to contribute to joint deterioration long before symptoms appear, experts say.
Note that this is an important discovery. Although scientists have long known that rheumatoid arthritis manifests itself as an overactive inflammatory response, what exactly causes it has remained a mystery. Who would have thought that the reason is hidden in the bacteria of the oral cavity. So if you have not been to the dentist for a long time and you are worried about swelling or bleeding of the gums, urgently make an appointment.
Parodontologists treat gum disease
Кстати, а вы знали как люди научились чистить зубы? Подробности здесь!
Periodontal and heart disease
The relationship between periodontal disease correlates with diseases of the cardiovascular system (as well as chronic diseases of the throat) is not new to scientists, but only recently researchers from the University of Hiroshima were able to show that periodontitis (as acute or chronic inflammation of periodontal tissues is called) can be associated with fibrosis – proliferation of connective tissue with the appearance of scars – and atrial fibrillation – Rapid irregular heartbeat.
Gum disease is associated with long-term inflammation, which plays a key role in the development of fibrosis and atrial fibrillation. We assume that periodontitis exacerbates fibrosis and want to identify the relationship between chronic periodontitis and heart disease, explains one of the authors of scientific work, Professor Shunsuke Miyauchi.
Progressive gum disease leads to irregular heart rhythm and problems with the cardiovascular system
The study, published in the journal Clinical Electrophysiolog, involved 76 patients with fibrosis. The team found that if there is a correlation between the two diseases, then the worse the condition of the gums, the more scarring the heart. The results mean that gum disease increases the risk of developing a number of heart diseases.
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How to keep gums healthy?
Fortunately, regular visits to the dentist can help keep your gums healthy and prevent joint and heart problems. Experts remind that in addition to proper oral hygiene (brush your teeth twice a day using dental floss and visit the dentist every 6 months) people with almost any chronic disease need stick to a healthy lifestyle – regularly exercise, control weight and reduce to a minimum the use of alcohol and tobacco (or better to give them up altogether).
Oral hygiene can help you avoid many health problems
The Hiroshima University team also notes that proper gum care has a positive effect on heart health in people with fibrosis. However, the discovery of Japanese scientists shows only correlationrather than causation, which means more research is needed in this area.
One of the main goals of future research is to confirm that periodontitis is a treatable risk factor for the development of atrial fibrillation and fibrosis, which requires the participation of dentists in the complex treatment of cardiovascular diseases. The results of this series of studies could benefit many people around the world, the Japanese scientists said in a statement.
Gum disease increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and negatively affects mental health
Не пропустите: Какую щётку лучше выбрать, чтобы отбелить зубы и поддержать здоровье полости рта
Taking care of your oral health also reduces your risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammation-related diseases. What’s more, previous research has shown that gum disease is common in people with depression, a common mental illness characterized by depressed mood, loss of interest in life, guilt, sleep disturbance, or appetite disturbance. Read more about what types of depression exist and when you need to see a doctor, we talked about in this article. Be healthy!
