New Research: The Links Between Obesity and Gum Disease

Obesity and Gum Disease

Maintaining healthy weight supports good oral health

Gum Disease and Obesity: Reaserch Shows Correlations

The correlation between obesity, diabetes and gum disease is something natural, holistic and biological dentists are well familiar with. New studies indicate that by reducing the fat in the body, the incidence of gum disease will improve. While research going back to 2003 has clearly demonstrated that obese adults are at higher risk of gum disease than are normal-weight people many people who are overweight or obese develop insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes as well, putting this population at even greater risk of gum disease. Following the epidemic of obesity the statistics are staggering; in the US approximately one of every three persons born in 2000 will develop diabetes in his or her lifetime.

Good news for health conscious Americans and for those who are working to improve their health through diet and exercise; Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine researchers recently reported findings from a pilot study that followed 31 obese people diagnosed with gum disease. Those who had fat cells surgically removed showed significant and rapid improvement in their symptoms of gum disease, while those who remained naturally obese showed little or no improvement.

Half of the group had gastric bypass surgery and had fat cells from the abdomen removed. That half showed much greater recovery from gum disease than did a control group of obese people who also were treated for gum disease but did not have the gastric bypass surgery or fat removed – and therefore presumably did not lose weight or work to increase their overall healthfulness. The tell tale finding of the study shows that the majority of participants who underwent surgery demonstrated significantly lower glucose levels following the procedure.

Diabetes is a complex disease with both vascular and metabolic components. A symbiotic connection appears to exist between diabetic control and oral infections. When gum disease sets in, metabolic control of diabetes is worsened. When diabetes is worsened, gum disease progresses.

Gums affected by gingivitis often bleed and are sensitive, but not always. Other signs include swollen gums, loose teeth, a bad taste in the mouth and persistent bad breath. While virtually anyone can develop periodontitis (gum disease), or diseases of the tissues surrounding the teeth and gums, people with diabetes often have more severe cases that can both cause and predict additional diabetic complications.

People who are diagnosed with adult onset diabetes type 2 are generally better able to control their symptoms though diet, exercise, weight loss and possible medications. This type of diabetes is associated with physical inactivity and obesity and therefore represents the population most likely to be affected by the Case Western Reserve University study – knowing as we do now, that by losing weight (or dropping the fat) not only can they reduce the risk of complications from diabetes, they will also lower their risk of developing gum disease, and/or increase their ability to fight existing periodontitis and restore the gums to full health.

No doubt research on this subject will continue, but the good news for those of us who are concerned with maintaining good oral health is that by following a healthy diet, getting regular dental check-ups, following a routine of adequate physical exercise and maintaining a healthy weight we are much more likely to have healthy gums and teeth. And, in the process we are much less likely to develop diabetes or obesity. Good common sense for some, great news for the rest of us.

The Truth About Gum Disease

Episode 9 of Dangers in Dentistry, originally aired on KPRZ in San Diego.

Have you or someone you know been told you need gum surgery? How about an expensive treatment for gum disease? Or maybe no one has ever talked to you at all about gum disease…

In this week’s episode of Dangers in Dentistry, Dr. Marvin — America’s Holistic Dentist — breaks down the biggest myths about gum disease — gingivitis, surgery, alternative treatments, risks, and more.

Join us for this week’s episode of Dangers in Dentistry and discover the real truth behind the myths!

Enjoy!
Dr. Marvin
San Diego, Encinitas Holistic Dentist

Gum Disease Linked to Rheumatoid Arthritis

As if you needed another reason to take care of your gums and treat gum disease, researchers at Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine and University Hospital of Cleveland have found that treating periodontal disease reduces arthritic pain, swollen joints, and morning joint stiffness in people suffering from arthritis.

The researchers discovered a close biochemical association between microbes in inflamed gums, the toxins they create, and the joints.

“It was exciting to find that if we eliminated infection and inflammation in the gums, then patients with a severe kind of active rheumatoid arthritis reported improvement on the signs and symptoms of that disease,” said Dr. Nabil Bissada, head of the school’s periodontics department, who worked with Dr. Ali Askari, chairman of the department of rheumatology at the hospital. “It gives us a new intervention.”

Gum disease and rheumatoid arthritis are both inflammatory diseases sharing similarities in their progression over time – the soft and hard tissues are destroyed from inflammation caused by toxins from bacterial infection. One toxin from the inflamed areas, called tumor necrosis factor-alpha, is a marker present in the blood when inflammation is present in the body and can initiate new infections or aggravate sites where inflammation already exists.

For patients who already suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, a visit to the dentist to treat any signs of gum disease might lessen the pain and inflammation. For people not currently suffering from arthritis, it’s one more reason to proactively treat and prevent gum disease.

“Again we are seeing another link where good oral health improves the overall health of an individual,” said Bissada.

Heart disease, rheumatic disease, diabetes, respiratory disease, osteoporosis… they all have one thing in common: they are all linked to gum disease. Once again it goes to show that taking proper care of your mouth makes good, common sense for your overall health.

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Dr. Marvin is an holistic dentist at The Center for Natural Dentistry in Encinitas, California (San Diego County), specializing in dental care that protects and preserves your overall wellness. If you’d like to schedule an appointment, please contact his office today at (888) 825-5351.

Gum Disease and Heart Disease: Scientifically Linked!

As an holistic dentist, I’m used to having people question the practice. After all, if the ADA hasn’t specifically said that mercury is bad (even though it’s a well know and scientifically proven neuro-toxin recognized by the FDA), then why should they believe that mercury fillings are bad?

The fact of the matter is, many governing bodies in the health industries are looking out more for the doctors than for the patients.

This weekend I was reading some health news and came across the following article on centrahealth.com. Is this the irrefutable proof people need to understand and believe the link between gum disease and heart disease? If it means taking care of yourself, then I certainly hope so… but read on and find out for yourself….

TUESDAY, May 26 (HealthDay News) — A genetic link between gum disease (periodontitis) and heart disease has been discovered by German scientists. The association between periodontitis and coronary heart disease (CHD) has been known for years, but a genetic link between the conditions hadn’t been confirmed. The University of Kiel team found that the two diseases share a genetic variant on chromosome 9. “We studied a genetic locus on chromosome 9p21.3 that had previously been identified to be associated with myocardial infarction [heart attack], in a group of 151 patients suffering from the most aggressive, early-onset forms of periodontitis, and a group of 1,097 CHD patients who had already had a heart attack. The genetic variation associated with the clinical pictures of both diseases was identical,” Dr. Arne Schaefer said in a European Society of Human Genetics (ESHG) news release. He and his colleagues verified this genetic association in additional groups of 180 periodontitis patients and 1,100 CHD patients. The study was presented May 25 at the annual ESHG conference, in Vienna, Austria. Because of the link between periodontitis and CHD, “we think that periodontitis should be taken very seriously by dentists and diagnosed and treated as early as possible,” Schaefer said. He noted that periodontitis and CHD share risk factors such as smoking, diabetes and obesity. “Now that we know for sure that there is a strong genetic link, patients with periodontitis should try to reduce their risk factors and take preventive measures at an early stage,” he said. “We hope that our findings will make it easier to diagnose the disease at an early stage, and that in future, a greater insight into the specific pathophysiology might open the way to effective treatment before the disease can take hold.”

SOURCE: European Society of Human Genetics, news release, May 25, 2009, and http://myhealth.centrahealth.com/healthnews/healthday/090526HD627365.htm

Dr. Marvin Explains Holistic Dentistry, Biological Dentistry, and Mercury Fillings

See Dr. Marvin get drilled by TV host Randy Alvarez on the Wellness Hour. 28 Minutes you don’t want to miss.