The TV series Fraiser has always been one of my all-time favorites. It was witty, silly, and the characters were likable yet easy to laugh at.
But my favorite episode offers so much more than a few good laughs…
In it, Frasier’s brother Niles – who, with his fussy tendencies and idiosyncrasies, was always my favorite character – keeps complaining of a throbbing toothache.
His pain turns out to have nothing to do with his tooth itself — but is actually referred heart pain that lands him in cardiac surgery for blocked arteries.
I’m sure it seemed far-fetched to some viewers at the time, but in the years since, studies have demonstrated that certain species of bad bacteria in the mouth can increase inflammatory proteins that accelerate the deposition of buildup in the coronary arteries.
Now, research is revealing that while poor oral health can damage the heart and blood vessels, a focused dental care routine that’s easily accessible could actually reduce narrowing of the arteries over time.
Here’s what you need to know…
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How gum disease leads to thick arteries
Periodontists and cardiologists conducted a gold-standard randomized trial at a dental hospital in central London. They followed 135 people with severe periodontitis (also known as gum disease).
For each person, they took blood samples for markers of inflammation and oxidative stress. They also measured how much the arteries dilated when blood flow increased, a measure of blood vessel functioning, and measured the thickness of their artery walls via ultrasound — a key marker for cardiovascular disease risk.
The participants were randomly split into separate groups to receive dental care — but it wasn’t the same old standard care for all participants…
- The first group received “intensive periodontitis treatment,” which included a thorough cleaning of the whole mouth and a deep cleaning below the gum line to remove plaque and tartar.
- The rest received a regular cleaning — with just a scale and polish — typical of a yearly dental visit.
Then, the participants were followed over the next two years, and each received further dental treatments at regular intervals throughout that time. Researchers also reassessed the carotid artery at the one-year and two-year marks, took blood samples and measured blood-vessel function at five different times.
The results spoke for themselves…
People who went through the intensive periodontitis treatment had:
- Carotid arteries with much lower thickness levels, indicating a lower risk for heart disease
- Better blood vessel function
- Lower levels of inflammatory and oxidative stress markers in their blood, which lead to atherosclerosis
In fact, the benefits patients received from deep gum treatment were “comparable to what has been seen with lifestyle interventions and some pharmacological agents in similar populations,” said Dr. Francesco D’Aiuto, a clinical research periodontist at University College London.
These findings suggest that oral health should be taken seriously as a contributing factor in cardiovascular disease, far more seriously than it has been considered previously, despite past research.
“For many, many years, dentists have been focusing on the teeth, forgetting the rest of the body, and physicians have been focusing on the body, forgetting that there are teeth,” said Dr. Maurizio Tonetti, a clinical and research periodontist. “They are really two worlds that have been separated and need to go back together for the benefit of patients.”
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Making oral health a priority
The good news is, this study proves that when you take care of your teeth and gums, you can support a healthy heart and blood vessels, along with a healthy mouth.
And in addition to seeing your dentist regularly, there are ways to do that at home.
First, be sure to take these six steps for fighting gum disease naturally. They include everything from diet and things to add to your toothpaste to supplements that can help.
I also highly recommend drinking matcha tea or using it in place of your usual mouthwash as it helps take down gum disease-causing bacteria.
I also practice oil pulling, specifically with coconut oil, to leverage a flavonoid known as prunin laurate or Pru-C12. Pru-C12 stops the growth of P. gingivalis, a bacterium frequently detected in deep periodontal pockets, considered to be the most critical bacterium in periodontal disease.
Keep your smile—and your ticker—in tip-top shape!
Sources:
Gum disease treatment slows the thickening of arteries, clinical trial shows – LIVESCIENCE
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