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Gum disease can break your heart
14th Feb 2012
Fresh breath is a must on Valentine's Day and not just for kissing – gum disease and mouth bacteria are increasingly being linked to heart problems, warn oral health experts from Eludril and Elgydium.
Scientists have published a number of theories that link gum disease with heart conditions, say the manufacturers of Eludril medicinal mouthwash and Elgydium toothpaste.
Research presented to the Society for General Microbiology has shown how bacteria can enter the bloodstream through sore gums and then go on to create a clot-forming protein. The research was carried out by scientists from the University of Bristol in conjunction with the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. Their findings pointed to Streptococcus bacteria which are responsible for causing tooth plaque and gum disease.
'These Streptococcus bacteria can get into the bloodstream and create a protein which causes blood platelets to stick together and clot,' said a spokesman for oral health experts from Eludril and Elgydium.
'The research followed a Scottish study of more than 11,000 people – those who did not brush their teeth twice a day were more likely to suffer from heart disease.'
Three years ago, a team from the University of Kiel in Germany discovered a genetic link between gum disease and heart attacks. They found a gene mutation in cardiac patients that was also present in people with people with periodontitis. Significantly, both conditions involve common risk factors: smoking, obesity and diabetes.
The Kiel researchers urged people with gum disease to get it treated as early possible – a warning echoed by the oral health specialists from Eludril and Elgydium.
They are urging people to watch out for gum disease symptoms – swollen, bleeding or receding gums – because they could be a prelude to more serious conditions elsewhere in the body.
Preventing and treating gum disease is not difficult. Good oral health begins with regular brushing and flossing but this is not enough. Regular dental checks are important if gum disease is to be identified early on and treated before it can cause pain, a receding gum line or tooth loss.
Eludril mouthwash is a short-term treatment for gum disease. Dental professionals recommend a 15ml dosage (for adults and children aged over 6) diluted with lukewarm water using the measuring cup provided. Elgydium toothpaste can be used every day to help ward off gum disease. It is available in Anti-Plaque, Whitening, Sensitive and Decay Protection versions.
Find out more about how Elgydium toothpaste and Eludril mouthwash can help to treat and prevent gum disease. Contact Nikki Pounds at Ceuta Healthcare on 01202 780558, nikki.pounds@ceutahealthcare.com, or visit www.gumproblems.co.uk.
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