Your oral health can have a powerful effect on your risk for heart attacks or strokes, according to a peer-reviewed Bale Doneen study published in Postgraduate Medical Journal. Using level A scientific evidence, the research is the first to reveal that periodontal disease (PD) due to certain high-risk bacteria can be a contributing cause of cardiovascular disease (CVD), the leading killer of men and women.
Also known as gum disease, PD is a chronic oral infection that affects the majority of Americans over age 30, many of whom are undiagnosed and unaware of their cardiovascular danger. Here is a closer look at the research and heart-smart steps the Bale Doneen Method recommends to keep your teeth and your ticker healthy.
Earlier research, including a scientific statement by the American Heart Association, has shown a strong, independent association between PD and CVD (which is also called heart disease). Indeed, a 2016 analysis of studies involving more than 7,000 people found that those with periodontitis were 2.5 times more likely to suffer heart attacks than those with healthy gums!
However, there is a key difference between one condition being associated with another disease versus being causal. Even optimal care for an associated condition may not have any impact on the end disease, while such management of a causal condition for CVD could be potentially lifesaving, by helping people avoid heart attacks and strokes.
In the early stages, PD often has no obvious symptoms. As a result, millions of people don’t realize they have a serious oral infection that can result in tooth loss, if untreated, and has now been shown to cause CVD.
Warning signs of PD include red, swollen or tender gums, bleeding when you brush or floss, loose or sensitive teeth and persistent bad breath. To find out if you have PD, as your dental provider to do a painless exam, using a mirror and periodontal probe to check for signs of oral infection.
There are companies that measure Oral Pathogens through DNA analysis. Some include: OralDNA, OraVital, and Hain Diagnostics.
While the results of the DNA pathogen tests can help guide personalized treatment for gum disease, there is no therapy proven to be 100% effective for getting rid of high-risk oral bacteria. Available treatments include more frequent cleaning, laser therapy, improved home care, prescription mouthwashes, dental trays with antibacterial gel (PerioProtect) and sometimes short courses of oral antibiotics.
No matter which treatment is prescribed, the Bale Doneen Method recommends repeating the DNA pathogen test afterwards to see if it worked.
If you smoke, here’s even more motivation to snuff out the habit: It’s a leading risk for developing gum disease. We also advise these measures to optimize your oral health:
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