Scimex: Oral infections that destroy teeth structures, caused by the bacteria in
your mouth, are linked to an increased risk of heart disease, a US
study has reported. The researchers reviewed current literature and
found that inflammation-causing oral diseases, including cavities and
gum diseases such as gingivitis and periodontitis, are associated with a
greater risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke.
Oral infections are the most common diseases of mankind and are also a
key risk factor for heart disease, which is the leading cause of death
worldwide. In a review article published in Trends in Endocrinology and
Metabolism on April 16, researchers summarize the latest clinical
evidence supporting a link between oral infections, which are caused by
the bacteria in our mouth, and heart disease, and they emphasize the
important role of inflammation in both of these conditions.
"Given
the high prevalence of oral infections, any risk they contribute to
future cardiovascular disease is important to public health," says
senior author Thomas Van Dyke of the Forsyth Institute. "Unravelling the
role of the oral microbiome and inflammation in cardiovascular disease
will likely lead to new preventive and treatment approaches." The (oral)
microbiome refers to the totality of microorganisms in a body part–in
this case the mouth—that we all co-exist with.
The most common
oral infections are cavities and periodontal diseases such as gingivitis
and periodontitis, which are chronic inflammatory diseases that slowly
and steadily destroy the supporting structures of multiple teeth.
Significant epidemiological evidence supports an association between
oral infections, particularly periodontitis, and stroke, especially
among men and younger individuals.
Inflammation plays a major role
both in oral infections such as periodontitis and in cardiovascular
disease. However, over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
such as ibuprofen can produce significant cardiovascular side effects,
which means it is crucial that we consider alternative therapies. A high
dose of a commonly prescribed cholesterol-lowering medication,
atorvastatin, which boosts blood levels of anti-inflammatory molecules
called lipoxins and resolvins, prevents both periodontal and
cardiovascular inflammation and reverses existing disease in humans.
This is exciting and promising because lipoxins and resolvins also have
the advantage of naturally controlling inflammation without suppressing
the immune system.
"New discoveries of natural pathways that
resolve inflammation have offered many opportunities for revealing
insights into disease pathogenesis and for developing new pharmacologic
targets for the treatment of both oral infections and cardiovascular
disease," Van Dyke says.
In future studies, it will be important
to compare the effectiveness of these inflammation-reducing molecules,
which we produce naturally, and other interventions that could
potentially prevent or reverse periodontitis and cardiovascular disease.
Another open question is whether there is a reverse relationship
between these conditions: what if the onset of cardiovascular disease
influences the presence or progression of periodontal disease? Or what
are some of the common genetic mechanisms underlying periodontitis and
cardiovascular disease?
In the meantime, Van Dyke recommends that people take better care of
their teeth to potentially lower their risk of cardiovascular disease
and other health problems. "The majority of diseases and conditions of
aging, including obesity and type 2 diabetes, have a major inflammatory
component that can be made worse by the presence of periodontitis," he
says. "Periodontitis is not just a dental disease, and it should not be
ignored, as it is a modifiable risk factor."