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Is Gum Disease a Risk Factor for Heart
Disease?
Health news in 1997 included the idea
that gum disease is a risk factor for
heart disease. As interesting (silly?
far-fetched?) as the idea that bleeding
gums result in heart attack appears to
some, it is a serious thought to others.
Prevention> magazine’s dental advisor,
Dominick DePaola, DDS, Ph.D., has listed
the gums-heart connection as a 1997
health breakthrough.
DePaola, writing in the December 1997 issue of Prevention, notes that the pockets formed in gum disease have one of the highest concentrations of bacteria in the body. This bacteria can leak into the bloodstream and be carried to the heart. The bacteria then have the potential to damage the heart walls or valves. The bacteria may also spur blood- clotting, which in turn can result in heart attack or stroke.
If this is true, gum disease could be quite the heart risk factor. After all, some 50 percent of the adult population have gum problems.
Gum disease--periodontal disease--starts with bacteria. Within hours of eating, bacteria and bacterial products form plaque. When plaque builds up, the some 300 types of bacteria found in plaque have a field day. They multiply, causing more plaque, and lead to gum disease.
What to Do
Good personal hygiene eliminates or slows the progression of bacteria and gum disease. If you notice you have inflamed gums or a bit of pink on your toothbrush, pay more attention to your dental habits. Brush well and floss. Be sure to do so before going to bed. It is at this time that the bacteria reach their highest count (because the fluids in your mouth are stagnant). Brushing and flossing before bed lowers the bacterial count before it naturally rises. In the morning, brush and floss again after breakfast to cut back the bacteria that developed overnight.The Role of Nutrition
Nutrition is important to gum health. According to Flora Parsa Stay, DDS, in The Complete Book of Dental Remedies some important nutrients for oral health are vitamins A, C, D, E, and K and the B vitamins; folic acid; biotin; choline; calcium; zinc; and magnesium.Two dietary supplements, coenzyme Q10 and aloe vera, are helpful to gum health. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) may help with periodontal pocket depth. In early research, Dr. Edward G. Wilkinson, of the U.S. Air Force Medical Center, gave patients 50 mg of CoQ10 a day. His patients experienced reduced periodontal pocket depth. Wilkinson said, “Treatment of periodontitis with coenzyme Q10 should be considered as an adjunctive treatment with current dental practice.” Later studies have reconfirmed this. Hanioka, et al., say "These results suggest that the topical application of CoQ10 improves adult periodontitis" (Molecular Aspects of Medicine. 1994. 15 Suppl)
Aloe vera is known to kill bacteria. Studies done by Dr. Eugene R. Zimmerman and Dr. Ruth A. Sims (Aloe Vera of America Archives, Stabilized Aloe Vera, Vol. I) note that aloe does have bactericidal properties. This means it may be useful in periodontal disease, which is a bacterial infection. Simply rub the liquid or gel on the gums. So, have a great smile and a healthy heart at the same time!
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