Even in young and healthy people, oral inflammation or periodontitis, a common infection of the gums, can affect cardiovascular health.
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Oral hygiene not only benefits the health of the gums and teeth, but also protects against cardiovascular diseases. This conclusion was made by doctors from Canada, after having conducted a small study on young men and women aged 18-30. In addition, saliva can be used for early diagnosis of vascular problems.
After testing a simple mouthwash on the saliva of the participants, it turned out that high levels of white blood cells in saliva are associated with a violation of the expandability of blood vessels, and this is an early sign of poor arterial health. .
Even in young and healthy people, oral inflammation or periodontitis, a common infection of the gums, can affect cardiovascular health, one of the leading causes of death worldwide, the study authors note. It is through the gums that harmful microorganisms enter the bloodstream, and then damage the vascular system.
HOW WAS THE EXPERIMENT?
28 non-smoking men and women aged 18 to 30, healthy and not taking any medication that could affect the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, and with healthy gums, were invited to the laboratory for examination. Before attending the examination, the young people were asked to follow a diet for six hours without drinking water. In the laboratory, young men and women rinsed their mouths with water and saline, and the results of the rinses were collected for analysis.
“The mouthwash test can be used at your annual checkup with your doctor or dentist,” said study co-author Dr. Michael Glogauer, of the University of Toronto. “It is easy to use as a tool to measure oral inflammation in any clinic.
WHAT DID THE INVESTIGATION SHOW?
It turned out that a high content of leukocytes in saliva is associated with poor vasodilation, and this is an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
– Presumably the inflammatory process in the oral cavity passes into the vascular system and affects the ability of the arteries to produce nitric oxide, which allows them to respond to changes in blood flow. Elevated white blood cells can have a big impact on vascular disease, says Dr. Trevor J. King of Mount Royal University in Calgary.
WHAT OTHER CONSEQUENCES CAN MOUTH INFECTIONS CAUSE?
“Since our oral microflora is represented by 160 types of microorganisms, and the oral cavity has an ideal environment for it, where there are constant conditions of humidity, temperature, and a variety of nutrients, then with the flow of blood and lymph, all this comes the joints and vessels of the heart”, said on the Internet channel “Healthy Interest” doctor – dentist, orthopedist, candidate for medical sciences, head of the dental department of CDC NMIC TPM Olga Burgart.
Thus, implicit secondary foci of infection are formed in the body and in humans – constant weakness and, in fact, internal intoxication of the body, which leads not only to vascular disease, but also to the development of allergies. By the way, infective endocarditis (inflammation of the inner lining of the heart) in 50% of cases is the result of an untreated gum infection.
