Archive for the ‘Stroke’ Category

Archive for the ‘Stroke’ Category

CRP or Cytokines

Tuesday, October 4th, 2011

CRP (C-reactive protein) is an indicator for general inflammation in the body. It is one of several cytokines and is often used interchangeably when talking about either. Cytokines are the invisible enemy; the higher the number, the higher the level of inflammation in the body. Periodontal disease creates biofilms which creates infection which creates higher levels of cytokines.

In the presence of infection, the blood cells (that are racing around looking for infections) release the cytokines and tell the body to manufacture more blood cells. Periodontal disease is chronic so there is a never ending call for the body to manufacture more blood cells and release more cytokines.

This merry-go-round is what is stressing out the body. Unfortunately, these cytokines inflame all the internal lumens of arteries (not just the gums and tissue around the teeth) and are responsible for a cascade effect for many systemic diseases, such as heart disease, cerebral vascular disease, diabetes, pancreatic cancer, respiratory diseases, oral and throat cancer, lung cancer, prostatitis, erectile dysfunction, children with low birth weight, chronic fatigue syndrome and most recently osteoporosis and breast cancer, These cytokines interact with the whole body’s system causing inflammatory immune response or stress.

Professional dental cleanings strip the biofilm in the mouth, similar to cutting down a forest. In literally hours, the biofilm is trying to reorganize.

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 Left unchecked, the new biofilm (forest) is reorganized (re-grown) in seventy days. Microscopic destruction occurs within a week. Ten times the amount of damage to the body is done between the third to the sixth month after a cleaning versus the first to the third month after a cleaning.

That is why three month professional dental cleanings are so important. The cleanings gets rid of the biofilm, gets rid of the inflammatory process and gets rid of the cytokines, which is taxing the entire system. Professional cleanings will not do it on its own. Three dimensional home cleaning (around each tooth) is essential to maintaining low levels of inflammatory response.

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Posted in Breast Cancer, Cancers, COPD, Diabetes, Endometriosis, Heart Disease, Immune System, Low Birth Weights, Obesity, Osteoporosis, Other Diseases, Periodontal Disease, Prostate Inflammation, Stroke | No Comments »

New Role For Dentists

Thursday, September 22nd, 2011

 

Hundreds of years ago it was the barber who treated teeth. Then the body of knowledge grew to create the dental profession. Today, you usually think of the dentist as the doctor who handles teeth and gums. But so much recent evidence is pouring in – to not only increase our knowledge but to change the way we think in how diseases in the mouth affect the body – that the dentist may enter a new role in the future. That role is to aid in reducing the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, COPD, and cancer. How? By preventing and treating periodontal disease.

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Patients with heart disease, stroke, diabetes, COPD, and cancer have increased levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) in their blood. CRP is an indicator of widespread inflammation in the body. Physicians agree that measuring levels of CRP is important in evaluating the risks to these diseases as well as monitoring their success in treatment. In fact CRP levels were found to be more accurate in predicting heart issues than cholesterol levels.

 

Current research indicates that periodontal disease contributes to increased levels of CRP. Periodontal disease is infection in the gums that produces oral bacterial byproducts that enter the blood stream and trigger the liver to make proteins.

 

Treating periodontal disease reduces the CRP levels and it is believed is as important in reducing the risk to systemic diseases as is weight control, exercise, and not smoking. Of all the ways to keep your body healthy and reducing the risk to systemic diseases, getting your teeth cleaned every three months (instead of the traditional six months) is by far the easiest for individuals and perhaps one of the best.

 

 

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Posted in Breast Cancer, Cancers, COPD, Diabetes, Heart Disease, Immune System, Osteoporosis, Other Diseases, Periodontal Disease, Prostate Inflammation, Stroke, Your Teeth | No Comments »

Clean Teeth Could Mean Clean Arteries – Less Chance Of Stroke

Monday, August 1st, 2011

More and more evidence points to the relationship between strokes and periodontal (perio) disease.

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 Studies in the Infectious Diseases Unit, Hospital Luigi Sacco, Milan, Italy have reported that the thickness of the carotid arteries was reduced after treatment for mild to moderate gum disease.

Strokes are caused by blockage in a blood vessel (most common) or bleeding of a vessel. The studies that were conducted showing a link between strokes and periodontal issues were those strokes caused by blockages. These occur when there is a thickening of the carotid and other arteries. Deposits of calcium and cholesterol – that are in blood vessels and arteries – break off and block the blood from reaching the brain. (The deposits are often referred to as plaque deposits. This is not to be confused with periodontal plaque.)

The bacteria found in periodontal disease are the perpetrator. The protein in the bacteria is similar to that found in periodontal disease.  While the bacteria are in the mouth, the body sets up a defense mechanism to attack the disease. The chemical given off by the body first attacks the periodontal disease then attacks the proteins in the blood vessels. This in turn builds up the deposits in the arteries. When the fatty substances break off the lining of the blood vessels they can travel to the brain and block the blood, causing the stroke.

There are about 800,000 strokes in the US each year, with over 140,000 deaths. It is the third leading cause of death. Strokes strike both men and women and can occur at any age.

Perio disease is a chronic infection of the soft t issue around the teeth. The gum tissue is destroyed and pockets are formed around the tooth. Symptoms include loose teeth, deep pockets, bad breath that won’t go away, painful or bleeding gums and red or swollen gums. There are no symptoms in the early stages of periodontitis. Professional dental visits are necessary to insure the disease is caught early. Periodontitis is caused by the plaque (in this case dental plaque) build up from not keeping the area around the teeth and in between teeth clean.

There are risk factors for stroke that one cannot control. These include age, gender, and family history. There are risk factors, however, that can be controlled. One factor is periodontal disease.  This can be managed successfully by individuals. Although oral surgical procedures may be necessary for severe cases, most treatment requires good oral hygiene.

The American Dental Association (http://www.ada.org/public/topics/cleaning.asp) recommends brushing teeth twice a day, flossing once a day, and professional cleanings twice a year.

The National Center for Biotechnology Information who published the study showing the link between strokes and periodontal disease, reported that the thickening of the carotid arteries “are positively influenced by periodontal treatment.” (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19074511?dopt=Abstract)

This information reinforces the belief that many in the dental profession have known for years, that there is a significant link between oral health and overall health.

 

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Posted in Heart Disease, Periodontal Disease, Stroke | Comments Off