Protecting the Body’s Gateway: the Benefits of Sound Dental Health

By Dr. Deedra Mason

Although it seems surprising to many, good dental hygiene represents a very solid first line of defense against cardiovascular disease, diabetes and even osteoporosis. The integrity of your gums is a picture of your heart health.  The smell of your breath is a look into the health of your response to sugar, as well as your digestive tone.  The structure, or health, of your teeth is an insight into your bones and a future risk of osteopenia or osteoporosis. Who would have thought you could learn so much from your teeth, jaw and gums?

Cardiovascular health is increasingly understood to involve not just the heart itself, but the entire system which is responsible for delivering vital nutrients to and removing waste products from all tissues in the body. As such, inflammation of gums and tissue break down are all implicated, and the fact of the matter is your dental health professional may be the first one to spot your relative risk.

In a recent Circulation study, after comparing equal numbers of participants with and without heart disease, researchers concluded that periodontitis was a strong and statistically significant predictor of heart disease, specifically due to its potential of “leaking” bacteria into the cardiovascular system, raising the risk of endocarditis, a bacterial infection on the heart valve(s);  bacterial strains similar to those found in the oral cavity have also been observed in the fatty plaques of arteries.

Another study in particular notes that dental problems may be a stronger predictor of heart disease than lipid levels, simply because dental professionals can see symptoms that the patient or the primary care provider may overlook because they have not been fully trained to recognize them, they not life-threatening or, in the case of the patient, they believe the symptom is normal for their age or gender.

Less-than-obvious symptoms for unregulated blood sugar and insulin resistance—the precursor to diabetes—may also be detected by a dentist first. According to the American Dental Association, diabetic patients are between three and four times as susceptible to periodontal disease as those patients that have healthy control over their blood sugar levels. Typical signs of blood sugar deregulation might be dry mouth, the presence of Candidastrains and a sweet smell to ones breath.

For those individuals who have not been officially diagnosed with blood glucose fluctuations, unrelenting periodontitis may be signs of an otherwise healthy individual’s predisposition to blood sugar imbalance. By managing blood sugar levels and maintaining daily oral hygiene it is possible to reverse periodontal disease.

Another key advantage that maintaining sound dental health can deliver for overall health and longevity is in regard to osteoporosis. This is because, in its early stages, the progressive decline in overall bone mineral density can be displayed during an oral exam with positive signs of loose teeth, or the complete loss of one or more teeth with no straightforward cause may be due to a pending bone mineral density problem. Although an important issue for everyone, this may be a particular concern for females after menopause, as estrogen levels slowly begin to diminish—a positive correlation has been established between this hormonal decline and an increased risk.

Having established the importance of oral health, and its value as a gatekeeper for the body’s other systems, there are several basic nutritional practices that can be implemented on a daily basis to augment the body’s own defenses. While saliva actually has a natural balance of antioxidants which can help protect the oral mucosa, often this balance is counterbalanced and in fact outweighed by the cumulative oxidative stress resulting from poor diet, lifestyle and hygienic choices on the part of the dental patient.

Vitamin C is a nutrient that helps to inhibit oxidative stress and may improve cellular metabolism, which can aid the body in defending against health issues such as inflammation. Vitamin C is also well-known as a strong supporter of overall immunity, which helps to promote the healing of minor wounds, such as occur after dental work.

The immune system can actually be adversely affected by a variety of vitamins and minerals, along with the skeletal system, which rely on their presence for much more literal “support.” Calcium offers the basic building blocks of a sound skeleton, and along with nutrients like Vitamin D, Magnesium, and Boron, it can help to form a winning combination for optimal dental health.

Clinical trials have also shown that supplementing with omega-3 fatty acids (found in fish oil) may help to maintain normal levels inflammatory end products that may put oral health at risk for periodontitis or gingivitis. This is because Omega-3 fatty acids help maintain overall anti-inflammatory support of oral tissue. Specifically, studies report that “dental health benefits of omega-3 Fatty acids of marine origin have been found to have strong anti-bacterial activity against a range of oral pathogens, and may have benefits that extend beyond inflammation.”

Because bacterial imbalances are often prevalent in the dental patient, another essential to optimize oral health is a quality source of probiotics. Probiotics promote not only healthy digestion in dental patients by providing beneficial bacteria to balance the oral environment, but also a stronger immune system to help protect against the formation of bacterial biofilms that can cause gingivitis.

For more direct gingival support, supplementing with CoQ10 may result in the reduction of periodontal disease. Oxidative damage occurs with periodontitis, and there are benefits to enriching the oral health patient’s daily nutraceutical regimen with a potent CoQ10.  Clinically, CoQ10 may help reduce gingival pockets, keep oral mucosa healthy with less bleeding or abnormal gingival enzyme activity.  Lower RBC levels of CoQ10 can predispose an individual to periodontitis, poor oral immunity and compromised mucosal integrity.

In summary, the oral cavity, a sight of heightened metabolic activity and vulnerability to injury due to it being a “high traffic”, yet delicate area, requires a sufficient barrier to offer a solution for today’s patients dietary choices and constant on-the-go lifestyles. Being proactive about your dental health, both at home and in the dentists’ office, can manage your predicament before more serious signs of disease manifest.

Who is Ready for Spring and all that it Brings?

With all of the beautiful things that spring has to offer, there is one thing that many people do NOT look forward to….allergies. With all of those budding flowers and flourishing trees, comes the sneezing and the headaches and the stuffiness. Well, before you reach for that Claritin, try some natural allergy relief. 

First, we should probably understand why allergies happen. Allergies occur because your body sees whatever the allergen is as a threat. Let’s say you are allergic to pet dander. When you breathe in said pet dander your immune system is ready for a fight. Your antibodies get thrown into production to get rid of the dander and then they alert mast cells. These blood cells release histamine that cause inflammation. Tissue around small blood vessels tightens, fluid escapes and That’s how you end up with an allergic reaction.

In addition to natural remedies, I couldn’t live without my Isotonix ORAC, OPC-3, Vitamin C, which are all natural antihistamines.  I also take Curcumin every day as well Aloe which is always a natural immune system builder since it’s anti-viral, anti-fungal and has over 200 nutrients.

Local honey – You have probably heard that local honey can help your allergies but do you know why? It is like a gradual vaccination against your local allergens. Honey contains many of the same pollen spores that cause such horrible allergies during blooming season. Taking these spores into the body in small amounts by eating honey should help the body get used to their presence and decrease your body’s histamine reactions.

Tumeric also aids in relieving allergies. Here is a quick recipe using honey: In a clean glass jar put 6 tablespoons uncooked honey and 6 tablespoons powdered turmeric. Stir until the turmeric is well mixed into the honey. When you feel your allergy symptoms coming on, you can eat one teaspoon of this honey 4 or 5 times a day. It will help to reduce your inflammatory reaction.

Neti pot (nasal saline rinse) - Nasal irrigation is the personal hygiene practice in which the nasal cavity is washed to flush out excess mucus and debris from the nose and sinuses.

Drink more fluids – fluids can help thin your mucous in your nasal passage, helping to give some relief. Fluids also help your body detox more quickly, which is always a good thing.

Take a shower – If the allergies outside are bothering you, they are going to continue bothering you inside as well. When you come in from a day outdoors, you still have the allergens on your clothing, body and hair. Take a shower and throw a load of laundry in to keep your home your safe haven.

Acupuncture - Don’t just lay back and take meds, find natural ways to fight back and for goodness sakes take supplements like Isotonix.  They can make seasonal changes smooth and without nasty allergies.

I hope these tips help you survive the spring!

Benefits of Delivery of Probiotics and Prebiotics to Infants

Posted on January 8, 2014 by Dr. Mark Lange

Probiotic for Infants

The gut microbiota plays an important role in human health by providing a barrier for colonization of pathogens, by exerting important metabolic functions (fermentation or nondigestible fiber, production of vitamin K), and by stimulating the development of the immune system. At birth, the intestines are sterile.  The bacteria colonizing the infant gut during the first days of life originate mainly from the mother and the environment.  Vaginally born infants are colonized at first by fecal and vaginal bacteria of the mother, whereas infants born through cesarean section are exposed initially to bacteria originating from the hospital environment and health care workers.

Breastfed infants are generally healthier than formula-fed infants, especially with respect to their ability to fend off infections.  Some of the health benefits of human milk have been attributed partly to factors that modulate the development of a normal gut microbiota.  A number of clinical studies in which infants were supplemented with probiotics suggest that some probiotics have beneficial effects in managing and preventing gastrointestinal infections and diarrhea, preventing the onset of allergy, reducing colic-associated crying, and may be useful in the treatment of atopic disease.

L. reuteri and L. rhamnosus are two naturally occurring strains that well-documented probiotics in terms of safety and capability to colonize the human intestine. [1] [2] [3] [4]  At 108CFU/day, these probiotics are well-tolerated with no reported side effects.

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study, two probiotic Lactobacillus strains (L. rhamnosus and L. reuteri) were given in combination for 6 weeks to 1- to 13-year-old children with atopic dermatitis.[5]  After active treatment, 56% of the patients experienced improvement of the eczema, whereas only 15% believed their symptoms had improved after placebo.

Giving pregnant mothers L. rhamnosus and continuing the supplementation in the child until two years of age led to a 44% lower incidence of eczema in children up to the age of six, compared to placebo.[6]

In a randomized study administration of prophylactic L. rhamnosus, to children (mean age 4.7 years) receiving antimicrobial therapy for respiratory infection, reduced the incidence of antibiotic-associated diarrhea to one third.[7]   Similarly, in a double-blind randomized trial of 188 children (median age 4 years) receiving oral antibiotic therapy, the number of children with antibiotic-associated diarrhea was reduced from 26% to 8% with the coadministration ofL. rhamnosus.[8]

Thirty preterm newborns were randomly assigned in a double-blind manner to receive L. reuteri (108 CFU/day) or placebo for 30 days.  Newborns receiving probiotics showed a significant decrease in regurgitation and mean daily crying time and a larger number of stools compared with those given placebo.[9]  Similarly, a placebo-controlled study of 42 infants with regurgitation were given either 108 CFU/day L. reuteri or placebo for 30 days.[10]  The frequency of regurgitation was significantly reduced.

Infantile colic is one of the most common problems within the first 3 months of life, affecting as my as one out of four infants.  Forty six infants diagnosed with infantile colic were given either 108 CFU/day L. reuteri or placebo for 21 days.  Infants showing a 50% reduction in crying time from baseline were significantly higher in the L. reuteri group versus placebo group on days 7 (20 vs 8), 14 (24 vs 13), and 21 (24 vs 15).[11] [12]

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial conducted at 14 Israeli child care centers, with 201 healthy term infants 4 to 10 months old, infants were assigned randomly to formula supplemented with B. lactis, L. reuteri, or no probiotics.  Those fed L. reuteri had significantly fewer episodes with fever (>38⁰C) and number of days and number of episodes with diarrhea or respiratory illness.[13]

L. reuteri converts glycerol into a potent broad-spectrum antimicrobial compound, reterin, which inhibits the growth of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.  The ability of L. reuteri isolates to inhibit growth in vitro was determined for the following enteric pathogens: Escerichia coli, Salmonella enteric, Shigella sonnei and Vibrio cholera.[14]

Prebiotic Oligosaccharides

Human milk oligosaccharides (HMO), after lactose and lipids, represent the third largest component in human milk (20-23 g/L in colostrum and 12-14 g/L in mature milk).  They are important components of the defense system of human milk, having both the prebiotic potential and the direct interaction with the immune cells.  Although these oligosacchardies are not identical to HMO, studies in preterm and term infants have shown that a formula supplemented with this prebiotic mixture results in an intestinal microbiota similar to that found in breast-fed infants.  Because a balanced intestinal microbiota is crucial for the expansion and education of the immune system early in life, a prebiotic mixture will help to modulate the immune system in bottle-fed infants.

A mixture of scGOS and lcFOS has been shown to reduce the incidence of atopic dermatitis and infectious episodes during the first 6 months of life.[15]  The protective effects were lasting beyond the intervention period.  Infants in the scGOS/lcFOS groups had significantly lower incidence of allergic manifestations.  Infants in the scGOS/lcFOS group had fewer episodes of physician-diagnosed upper respiratory tract infections, fever episodes, and fewer antibiotic prescriptions.

A study on term infants with no particular risk shows that the episodes of intestinal and upper respiratory tract infections were significantly lower in the groups fed a formula supplemented with scGOS/lsFOS, when compared to a group fed a standard formula without prebiotics during the first year of age.[16]

Conclusion

There is a substantial and evolving body of positive evidence concerning the safety and efficacy of probiotics and prebiotics in infants. For infants, the aim of probiotic and prebiotic supplementation is to provide a safe yet sufficient microbial stimulus for the immature immune system, which contributes to the anti-inflammatory and anti- diarrheal effects.  Also probiotics may suppress the proliferation and virulence of bacterial pathogens.

With nutraMetrix DNA Miracles Probiotics Plus, you can rest easy knowing that you're providing your child one of the most complete children's probiotic and prebiotic formulas on the market today.

Both probiotics and prebiotics are necessary for a child's proper and healthy development. Healthful bacteria and prebiotics are passed from mother to child through breast milk. In some instances – for example, if an infant is formula-fed or born through Caesarian section – it may be beneficial to supplement an infant with healthful, proper amounts of these beneficial components of breast milk

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Cocos nucifera (Coconut) Oil.
Coconut oil is a pale yellow, semi-solid, oil that is pressed from the dried fruit of coconuts. It is composed of 90% saturated triglycerides, particularly lauric and myristic fatty acids. It is classified by the cosmetic industry as both an emollient and occlusive skin conditioning agent, suggesting that it can help keep the skin hydrated, and looking soft and smooth.

Ceramide 3.
Ceramides are a group of lipid molecules compised of sphingosine and a fatty acid. Ceramides support the skin’s normal moisture retention and help maintain the skin’s normal barrier system. These intensive hydrating properties help keep the skin looking smooth and supple.

Epilobium angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract (Canadian Willowherb™).
An extract from the plant more commonly known as willowherb. Epilobium angustifolium contains phenolic compounds like tannins and flavonoids, as well as the powerful antioxidant “oenothein B”. These plant compounds have properties that might help to soothe and condition the skin, thereby helping to keep the skin looking and feeling smooth and soft.

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A corn-derived skin conditioning agent that supports long-term skin hydration to keep the skin looking soft and smooth.

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