Did You Know Gum Bacteria Can Cause Serious Health Issues?

By Richard A. Miller, DDS

National Breath Center®

. https://beathalitosis.com/

More Dental Health Articles

Did You Know Gum Bacteria Can Cause Serious Health Issues?

Are you concerned about
Alzheimer’s disease? Heart disease? Stroke? All of these serious diseases are linked to bacteria that live in the mouth and cause inflammation, and sometimes gum infections.

Here’s a common Myth about gum disease: “My gums don’t bleed so I don’t need to worry about a gum infection.” Unfortunately, this is false. This bacterium can be present even when bleeding is minimal or non-existent. Because they hide in the depths of the gum space, many times brushing and flossing cannot get to them.

But even before a gum infection occurs, lurking within the gums are millions of bacteria that cause inflammation, the mechanism that seemingly ties all these diseases to oral bacteria. The most important of these is P.gingivalis (Porphyromonas gingivalis), which travels through the bloodstream to the heart arteries, the brain, and other organs. In fact, a recent study in the Journal of Microbiology found that 100% of patients with cardiovascular disease had arterial colonization.

It’s important to note that this bacteria, P.gingivalis, can be present in anyone’s mouth – with no noticeable gum symptoms to advanced gum disease.

Gum Infection
Linked To Alzheimer’s

Besides the link to heart disease, stroke, and breast cancer, scientists recently have found these mouth bacteria in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients. A recent headline in USA Today – “Gum infection linked to Alzheimer’s disease, new study suggests” – references a study in in Science Advances that showed P.gingivalis is a marker for developing Alzheimer’s disease.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, here are the facts.

5.7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s.

Every 65 seconds, someone new develops Alzheimer’s.

One in 10 people age 65 and older (10%) has Alzheimer’s dementia.

Almost two-thirds of Americans with Alzheimer’s are women.

Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States, and the fifth-leading cause of death among those age 65 and older

Deaths from Alzheimer’s disease have increased significantly from 2000-2015 by 123%

With more evidence appearing that links P. gingivalis to multiple systemic diseases, how do you know if you have P.gingivalis bacteria in your mouth?

Anti-Bacterial Approach

State-of-the-art dental care requires taking a bacterial culture to determine if this bacterium is present in your mouth and then taking the appropriate measures to eliminate it. This is simple yet highly effective.

If present, how do we eliminate P. gingivalis and other oral bacteria using the Anti-Bacterial Approach? All oral bacteria live in a biological film, or biofilm, a thick (up to ½ inch) gooey substance that attaches under the gums and on the tongue. This biofilm must be removed by hand. Along with this painless procedure, the proper therapeutic agents to kill the remaining bacteria provide a thorough technique to rid the mouth of these bacteria.

The other area where these bacteria live is the tongue. Tongue Rejuvenation® painlessly eliminates the bacteria and biofilm on the tongue. With the proper oral care techniques, anyone can remain free from the effects of P. gingivalis and its relatives.

Using the Anti-Bacterial Approach, P.gingivalis can be eliminated from the oral cavity.