The mouth is the portal of entry for most of the pathogenic bacteria that affect our health and a location for potential infections that affect us adversely. Periodontal treatment can improve endothelial function and other risk markers of atherosclerosis. That there is a relationship between periodontal disease and atherosclerosis is not new; however, this study, which further defines the common pathogenic mechanisms behind both periodontal disease and atherosclerosis, is certainly significant. If periodontal disease increases a person’s risk of developing atherosclerosis over the next ten years, how many lives could be improved (or even saved) by advanced, pathogen-directed treatment?

Interaction between periodontal disease and atherosclerotic vascular disease. Aarabi, Ghazal et al. Atherosclerosis , Volume 241 , Issue 2 , 555 - 560

Nine different periodontal bacterial co-occurrences were observed in subgingival plaque and atheromatous plaque of Ischaemic heart disease patients. Significant odds and risk ratio to atherosclerosis were observed for P. gingivalis, T. forsythia, T. denticola and P. nigrescens.

Anaerobe. 2017 Apr;44:66-72. doi: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2017.02.003. Epub 2017 Feb 8. "Association of periodontopathic anaerobic bacterial co-occurrence to atherosclerosis" - A cross-sectional study. Mahalakshmi K, Krishnan P, Arumugam SB.

Periodontitis progression was associated with increase in HbA1c in patients with type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Identification of these risk factors suggests that periodontal treatment may improve glycemic control of patients with type 2 Diabetes by eliminating periodontal infection.

J Periodontol. 2017 Jan;88(1):17-25. Epub 2016 Aug 26. Influence of Periodontal Disease on Changes of Glycated Hemoglobin Levels in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Retrospective Cohort Study. Costa KL1, Taboza ZA, Angelino GB, Silveira VR, Montenegro R Jr, Haas AN, Rego RO.

The mouth may seem like a strange place to search for a culprit in a disease that primarily affects the joints. But a recent collaboration by a group of multidisciplinary researchers suggests that one type of oral bacteria may be an important trigger in about half of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) cases.

Abbasi J. To Prevent Rheumatoid Arthritis, Look Past the Joints to the Gums. JAMA. 2017;317(12):1201-1202. doi:10.1001/jama.2017.0764

Dental health is as important as preventive medicine for Erectile Dysfunction.  Chronic periodontitis had a high association with ED in young adults at 30-40 years. Periodontal treatment can provide additional benefits in the improvement of ED.

Saini R. Periodontal Disease Linked to Erectile Dysfunction. J Oral Bio. 2016; 3(1): 1.

Risk of cognitive decline in older men increases as more teeth are lost due to periodontal disease and caries.  Inflammation resulting from periodontal disease is also implicated in cognitive decline.

Kaye EK, Valencia A, Baba N, Spiro A, Dietrich T, Garcia RI. Tooth loss and periodontal disease predict poor cognitive function in older men. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. 2010;58(4):713-718. doi:10.1111/j.1532-5415.2010.02788.x.

Periodontal treatment during the second trimester of gestation contributes to decrease adverse pregnancy outcomes which could include preterm birth or spontaneous abortion.

SANT’ANA ACP, de CAMPOS MR, PASSANEZI SC, de REZENDE MLR, GREGHI SLA, PASSANEZI E. Periodontal treatment during pregnancy decreases the rate of adverse pregnancy outcome: a controlled clinical trial. Journal of Applied Oral Science. 2011;19(2):130-136. doi:10.1590/S1678-77572011000200009.

Periodontal disease related Fusobacterium species were detected in pancreatic cancer tissue and is independently associated with a worse prognosis of pancreatic cancer, suggesting that Fusobacterium species may be a prognostic biomarker of pancreatic cancer.

Mitsuhashi K, Nosho K, Sukawa Y, et al. Association of Fusobacterium species in pancreatic cancer tissues with molecular features and prognosis. Oncotarget. 2015;6(9):7209-7220.

It is suggested that the oral microbiome contributes to glaucoma pathophysiology. Commensal bacteria may play a role in the development and/or progression of glaucomatous pathology and may also be relevant to other chronic neurodegenerative disorders. A plausible mechanism is that increased bacterial loads can lead to neurodegeneration.

Astafurov K, Elhawy E, Ren L, et al. Oral Microbiome Link to Neurodegeneration in Glaucoma. Barnes S, ed. PLoS ONE. 2014;9(9):e104416. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0104416.

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