News

1. Gum Disease linked to heart illness

      By Tim Friend, USA TODAY (www.usatoday.com)

      Philadelphia - The most common strain of bacteria in dental plaque can cause blood clots that induce heart attacks when they escape into the              bloodstream, researchers reported Monday.

      Mark Herzberg of the University of Minnesota said the findings are the first to link bacteria to the formation of potentially fatal blood clots.

      Previous studies had found the incidence of heart is about twice as high in people with periodontal disese, but scientists didn't know why.

      "Now, we show a potential biological reason." Herzberg told the 150th annual meeting of American Association for the Advancement of Science.

      In lab tests, Herzberg and colleagues injected bacteria from dental plaque into the bloodstream of rabbits. The bacteria caused blood clots to              form within minutes. Rabbits are a proven model for testing hypotheses about human heart disese and heart attacks.

      Chronic inflammation of the gums due to plaque also could be involved in the inflammation of the living of the blood vessels that is known to              lead to the build-up of plaque in the arteries, Herzberg said.

      Additional studies presented at the meeting show that bacteris in plaque also are linked to:

         • A potentially fatal disease called infenctive endocarditis in which the sac around the heart becomes inflammed.

         • Lung infenctions in people with chronic lung disease such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

         • A weakened immune system that can slow wound healing and diminish a person's response to vaccines against hepatiris B and influenza.

         • A higher risk of giving birth to premature, low-birth weight infants.

       Reducing risk fo disease linked to dental bacteria is a common lesson preached by dentists: Have the teeth cleaned regularly and floss daily. 
       If  necessary, have bone implants to replace dental bone lost from periodontal disease, says researcher, Frank Scannapieco, State Unversity of             New York, Buffalo. Bacteria reside in pockets caused by bone loss where the teeth are attached.

(From Reprinted by Pro-Dentec, 1998)