Healthy Gums for a Healthy Heart

Healthy gums for a healthy heart is the subject of many articles appearing nationally in consumer newspapers and trade publications such as Internal Medicine News and Science, a resource which keeps scientists and laymen abreast of scientific advancements.

The American Academy of Periodontologyrecently launched a media story on Journal of Periodontology Editor Dr. Robert Genco and his study, which found that people with periodontal disease are 2.7 times as likely to suffer a heart attack than those with healthy gums. Dr. Genco presented his research at the International Association for Dental research meeting in Orlando, Fl. (the abstract appears in the Journal of Dental Research, Volume 76, 1997, abstract 3159). "Allowing for factors such as age, sex, weight, cholesterol, and high blood pressure, as well as diabetes and insulin use," explained Dr. Genco, "we found that among the sample population under age 60, gum disease was an even more important risk factor for cardiovascular disease than was high blood pressure."

"As research surrounding the interface between periodontics and medicine emerges, the media are more receptive to stories about periodontal disease," noted Academy President Dr. Robert Ferris. "Suddenly, these messages can compete with stories about life-threatening illnesses because periodontal disease is linked to a person`s overall health."

The reason for the link is unknown, but Dr. Genco theorizes that bacteria enter the blood through inflamed gums and cause small blood clots that help clog arteries. A recent article in the New Engalnd Journal of Medicine reinforces this theory that inflammation, possibly caused by infection, promotes arterial plaque formation. Dr. Genco is testing this hypothesis in a new 5 year study funded by the National Institutes od Health.

Reference/Source: AAP NEWS,Volume 32, Number 7, page 4

Contributed by:
Dr. Esteban Bolaños Lund
Especialidades Odontologicas Escazú