THE DENTAL – CARDIOVASCULAR EVENT- MORTALITY LINK
Dental pulp stones are Nanobacterial, and if you or a family member have them, then you seem to be at risk for pathological calcification elsewhere. Calcified dental plaque also involves Nanobacteria. Well big deal! We’re worried about heart disease, something important; why should we care about the goings on in the mouth.
Well, some people feel that what goes on in the mouth has something to do with what goes on in the heart, as well as the tendency of some patients to not go on at all. Americans do not enjoy good periodontal health, just as they don’t enjoy good cardiovascular health. The average American has 10-17 decayed, filled, or missing teeth. Periodontitis is not uncommon, and gingivitis is our number one infection. The following study set out to establish a link between poor oral health and future cardiovascular health status.
Oral health status was evaluated in 9,760 25-74 year-old American men and women, all free of known cardiovascular disease. The number of decayed or missing teeth was recorded, along with the presence or absence of gingivitis or periodontitis.
No intervention was carried out. These individuals were followed, on average, for fourteen years. Using hospital records and patient interviews, new onset coronary disease, cardiac death, and overall mortality were noted. Follow-up was 90% complete. The investigators then looked for a relationship between dental and periodontal health at baseline, and cardiovascular and vital status fourteen years later.
Compared to persons with pristine dental health, individuals demonstrating gingivitis at baseline were 5% more likely to develop new onset coronary disease over the following 14 years. Periodontitis or the absence of teeth, presumably reflecting advanced dental/periodontal disease, was associated with a 23-25% increased risk. Individuals with gingivitis, periodontitis, or no teeth, were 23, 46, and 46% more likely to die over the follow-up period
In men, the presence of periodontitis was associated with a 72% greater risk of developing coronary disease at a young age. Gingivitis was associated with a 42% increased risk; individuals with periodontitis or no teeth were 2.1 and 2.6-fold more likely to die before their 50th birthday.
It has been proposed that the link between periodontal and cardiovascular disease is bacterial in origin. N. sanguineum is present in the mouth and is associated with Figure 4impaired dental and periodontal health. Later on we will learn that N. sanguineum is present in the coronaries, where it is associated with coronary artery calcification. So can necking break your heart?
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