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.
