In the 1950s, cholesterol emerged as a chief player. Later, research revealed that LDL, or “bad” cholesterol, clung to artery walls, contributing to the formation of artery-clogging plaque.

But over the years, research has revealed that cholesterol is just one of many factors that can lead to a heart attack — including diabetes, adipose fat, kidney dysfunction, obesity and lack of exercise, to name just a few.

Then there’s research that uncovers a whole new pathway through which heart disease develops, such as bacteria from the mouth.

Keep that in mind as you read how bacteria, hidden for years in artery plaque, can trigger heart attack, and why this knowledge may make them easier to prevent…

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Infectious processes can trigger heart attack cascade

Scientists from Finland and the United Kingdom have uncovered previously unknown evidence that heart attacks may be triggered by infectious processes, rather than just by cholesterol and other lifestyle factors.

Biofilms are sticky, protective layers that shield bacteria from immune responses and antibiotics. In this recent research, such biofilms have been discovered inside atherosclerotic plaque, where they likely formed over and protected bacteria for years, even decades.

These bacteria can remain dormant for years, but can be activated by external forces, such as a viral infection.

Scientists observed that when this happened, the person’s immune system responded, triggering inflammation, which ruptured arterial plaque and caused blockages that led to heart attack.

“Bacterial involvement in coronary artery disease has long been suspected, but direct and convincing evidence has been lacking. Our study demonstrated the presence of genetic material — DNA — from several oral bacteria inside atherosclerotic plaques,” explains Professor Pekka Karhunen, who led the study.

These findings pave the way for the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies to prevent or treat heart attacks — including, the researchers say, the possibility of preventing coronary artery disease and heart attack by vaccination.

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A missing step for heart protection

As odd as it seems, this isn’t the first time I’ve encountered research linking immune response and inflammation to heart attacks.

In 2020, researchers from Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin and the German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK) discovered that in approximately 25% of heart attack patients, the trigger was activated immune cells — specifically, T-lymphocytes (T cells).

According to that research, a “misguided adaptive immune response” activated T cells to accumulate on the inner lining of the artery wall, where they damaged the lining and contributed to the formation of a blood clot. Following an inflammation cascade, the plaques erode, resulting in debris in the bloodstream and artery-blocking clots that trigger a heart attack.

That research, like this newest one, was significant for demonstrating that heart attacks can have different pathophysiological origins — including an immune-mediated mechanism.

So, in addition to doing all the right things to promote heart health, it may be time to add “promoting a healthy and balanced immune system” to that long list.

 A balanced immune response activates T cells in a measured response to pathogens without creating so much inflammation that it harms the body’s own tissue.

The opposite of this is what we see in autoimmune conditions, where the immune response becomes overly active and goes rogue. Specific nutrients have been found effective at dialing it back, including one that strengthens the immune system and one that reduces inflammation: Vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids.

Plus, both of those are also known to support heart health. Are you starting to see how it all comes together?

Sources:

Heart attacks may actually be infectious — Science Daily

Viridans Streptococcal Biofilm Evades Immune Detection and Contributes to Inflammation and Rupture of Atherosclerotic Plaques — Journal of the American Heart Association

The post Newly discovered cause of heart attack hides in plaque appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

For one thing, it may take us longer to prepare our meals. We may also develop health issues that interfere with our eating habits.

Both of these factors can influence when we eat, making it more likely that our meals will be delayed.

Our sleep patterns may change, too. Becoming something of a “night owl” can increase the likelihood of having a late breakfast.

Why does any of this matter?

Eating breakfast later and later can have a cascading effect on aging adults, leading to an earlier death…

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Breakfast timing provides clues about health status

Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital have found that breakfast timing may be a valuable tool in monitoring the health of older adults.

Led by Dr. Hassan Dashti, a nutrition scientist and circadian biologist at Massachusetts General, the research team analyzed data from 2,945 adults in the UK ages 42 to 94. They then followed these subjects for more than 20 years.

They found that as older adults age, there is a tendency to eat breakfast and dinner at later times, narrowing the overall time window in which they eat each day and having a significant impact on their health and well-being.

Eating breakfast later was consistently associated with having physical and mental health conditions, including depression, fatigue, sleep problems and oral health problems.

But most alarming, a later breakfast was also associated with an increased risk of death during the follow-up period.

“Up until now, we had a limited insight into how the timing of meals evolves later in life and how this shift relates to overall health and longevity,” says Dr. Dashti.

“Our findings help fill that gap by showing that later meal timing, especially delayed breakfast, is tied to both health challenges and increased mortality risk in older adults. These results add new meaning to the saying that ‘breakfast is the most important meal of the day,’ especially for older individuals.”

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The most important thing: Consistency

Dr. Dashti suggested that encouraging older adults to have consistent meal schedules could become part of broader strategies to promote healthy aging and longevity.

So if you tend to be a night owl and a late breakfast eater, take some steps to turn those habits around.

According to research from Harvard and MIT, pushing back your bedtime and wake time by just one hour can lower your depression risk by 23%.

And you’ll be doing yourself a favor in other ways, too. You’ll be reducing your risk of diabetes, heart disease and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

No matter what time you head off to bed, sticking to a regular sleep schedule is crucial — as well as aiming for 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night.

Duke University researchers found that going to bed and getting up at about the same time each day lowers your risk for obesity, hypertension, and stroke — even if your total sleep time is less than optimal.

Specifically, disrupted sleep has been shown to increase the number of white blood cells, known as monocytes and neutrophils, in the blood. These cells are known to contribute to the development of plaque inside the arteries and put individuals at risk for heart problems and strokes.

To improve your chances of being ready for bed in the evening…

• Try moving around during the day, taking short walks, preferably with friends or neighbors.
• Turn off electronics or TVs to reduce blue light, which can interfere with sleep.
• Aim for a consistent bedtime.
• Practice good sleep hygiene by avoiding falling asleep in a chair or on the couch.
• Stop drinking caffeine at least 6 hours before bed. Try some chamomile tea instead — but do so about 2 hours before bedtime to keep your bladder from waking you up.
• If needed, a bedtime snack of walnuts and cherries is a good source of natural sleep-promoting melatonin.
• Don’t forget to brush your teeth before bed.

Sweet dreams!

Sources:

Scientists reveal how breakfast timing may predict how long you live — Science Daily

Meal timing trajectories in older adults and their associations with morbidity, genetic profiles, and mortality — Communications Medicine

The post The clues breakfast timing holds about your longevity appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

But my favorite episode offers so much more than a few good laughs…

In it, Frasier’s brother Niles – who, with his fussy tendencies and idiosyncrasies, was always my favorite character – keeps complaining of a throbbing toothache.

His pain turns out to have nothing to do with his tooth itself — but is actually referred heart pain that lands him in cardiac surgery for blocked arteries.

I’m sure it seemed far-fetched to some viewers at the time, but in the years since, studies have demonstrated that certain species of bad bacteria in the mouth can increase inflammatory proteins that accelerate the deposition of buildup in the coronary arteries.

Now, research is revealing that while poor oral health can damage the heart and blood vessels, a focused dental care routine that’s easily accessible could actually reduce narrowing of the arteries over time.

Here’s what you need to know…

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How gum disease leads to thick arteries

Periodontists and cardiologists conducted a gold-standard randomized trial at a dental hospital in central London. They followed 135 people with severe periodontitis (also known as gum disease).

For each person, they took blood samples for markers of inflammation and oxidative stress. They also measured how much the arteries dilated when blood flow increased, a measure of blood vessel functioning, and measured the thickness of their artery walls via ultrasound — a key marker for cardiovascular disease risk.  

The participants were randomly split into separate groups to receive dental care — but it wasn’t the same old standard care for all participants…

• The first group received “intensive periodontitis treatment,” which included a thorough cleaning of the whole mouth and a deep cleaning below the gum line to remove plaque and tartar.
• The rest received a regular cleaning — with just a scale and polish — typical of a yearly dental visit.

Then, the participants were followed over the next two years, and each received further dental treatments at regular intervals throughout that time. Researchers also reassessed the carotid artery at the one-year and two-year marks, took blood samples and measured blood-vessel function at five different times.

The results spoke for themselves…

People who went through the intensive periodontitis treatment had:

• Carotid arteries with much lower thickness levels, indicating a lower risk for heart disease
• Better blood vessel function
• Lower levels of inflammatory and oxidative stress markers in their blood, which lead to atherosclerosis

In fact, the benefits patients received from deep gum treatment were “comparable to what has been seen with lifestyle interventions and some pharmacological agents in similar populations,” said Dr. Francesco D’Aiuto, a clinical research periodontist at University College London.

These findings suggest that oral health should be taken seriously as a contributing factor in cardiovascular disease, far more seriously than it has been considered previously, despite past research.

“For many, many years, dentists have been focusing on the teeth, forgetting the rest of the body, and physicians have been focusing on the body, forgetting that there are teeth,” said Dr. Maurizio Tonetti, a clinical and research periodontist. “They are really two worlds that have been separated and need to go back together for the benefit of patients.”

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Making oral health a priority

The good news is, this study proves that when you take care of your teeth and gums, you can support a healthy heart and blood vessels, along with a healthy mouth.

And in addition to seeing your dentist regularly, there are ways to do that at home.

First, be sure to take these six steps for fighting gum disease naturally. They include everything from diet and things to add to your toothpaste to supplements that can help.

I also highly recommend drinking matcha tea or using it in place of your usual mouthwash as it helps take down gum disease-causing bacteria.

I also practice oil pulling, specifically with coconut oil, to leverage a flavonoid known as prunin laurate or Pru-C12. Pru-C12 stops the growth of P. gingivalis, a bacterium frequently detected in deep periodontal pockets, considered to be the most critical bacterium in periodontal disease.

Keep your smile—and your ticker—in tip-top shape!

Sources:

Gum disease treatment slows the thickening of arteries, clinical trial shows – LIVESCIENCE

The post How your dentist can keep your arteries from narrowing appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

In fact, several studies have shown that consuming beet juice can lower blood pressure in both healthy individuals and those with high blood pressure.

One reason is that beets are loaded with nitrates. The body converts nitrate into nitric oxide (NO), a signaling molecule that’s vital for the healthy functioning of blood vessels and, in turn, the regulation of blood pressure.

However, new research suggests there may be a caveat to this effect — particularly in younger adults…

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The role of the oral microbiome

A study by researchers at the University of Exeter in the U.K. recruited 39 adults under the age of 30, as well as 36 adults in their 60s and 70s. For two weeks, each group took a concentrated “shot” of beet juice twice a day. After a two-week reset period, participants consumed a placebo version of beet juice with the nitrate removed twice daily for two weeks.

The results were surprising. While the older adults saw a noticeable decrease in blood pressure after drinking the nitrate-rich beet juice for two weeks, the younger adults did not. No change was observed in either group after drinking the beet juice with nitrate removed.

“We know that a nitrate-rich diet has health benefits, and older people produce less of their own nitric oxide as they age,” says study author Anni Vanhatalo, a professor at the University of Exeter. “They also tend to have higher blood pressure, which can be linked to cardiovascular complications like heart attack and stroke.”

It’s known that an imbalance between beneficial and harmful oral bacteria can reduce the conversion of nitrate to nitric oxide. This prompted the researchers to use a gene sequencing method to analyze which bacteria were present in the mouth before and after each two-week period.

They made a fascinating discovery…

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While there were significant changes in the oral microbiome in both groups after drinking the nitrate-rich beet juice, the changes differed between the younger and older groups.

The older age group showed a notable decrease in the mouth bacteria Prevotella after drinking the unaltered beet juice with nitrate, as well as an increase in the growth of beneficial bacteria such as Neisseria. The younger group showed an increase in some beneficial bacteria, including Neisseria, but not to the same extent as the older group.

In short, the blood pressure-lowering effect of nitrate-rich beet juice in older people may be enhanced due to specific changes in their oral microbiome.

“This study shows that nitrate-rich foods alter the oral microbiome in a way that could result in less inflammation, as well as a lowering of blood pressure in older people,” says co-author Andy Jones, a professor at the University of Exeter. “This paves the way for larger studies to explore the influence of lifestyle factors and biological sex in how people respond to dietary nitrate supplementation.”

A previous study by the University of Exeter found that beet juice promoted healthier aging in just 10 days.

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Make the most of what beet juice can do

Dr. Lee Beniston of BBSRC says the study “opens up new opportunities for improving vascular health through nutrition.”

“Encouraging older adults to consume more nitrate-rich vegetables could have significant long-term health benefits,” Vanhatalo says. “The good news is that if you don’t like beetroot, there are many nitrate-rich alternatives like spinach, rocket, fennel, celery and kale.”

While it’s true that you can get nitrates from these other vegetables, you would have to eat a significant amount of them to obtain the same benefits as you would from a glass of beet juice.

That’s why most studies on dietary nitrate and heart health have used beet juice and beet powders, which are popular among athletes.

I’m not a big beet fan, but there are ways to make them more palatable. For instance, if you make your own beet juice with a blender or juicer, you can add celery, cucumber or apple for additional flavor. But nothing is easier than a pre-made beet powder you can mix with water or juice.

It’s essential to note that certain dental hygiene habits can affect the natural processes that facilitate the conversion of nitrates to nitric oxide.

Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Texas found that antiseptic mouthwash, particularly that containing chlorhexidine, interfered with that conversion process and led to a significant increase in systolic blood pressure in a group of 26 study participants.

Sources:

Beetroot juice lowers blood pressure in older people by changing oral microbiome — University of Exeter

Ageing modifies the oral microbiome, nitric oxide bioavailability and vascular responses to dietary nitrate supplementation — Free Radical Biology and Medicine

The post The missing link for lowering blood pressure with beet juice appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Some people seem more prone to them, while others, like me, eat well and brush and floss, but still have a collection of teeth that have fillings.

Well, I’ve recently read about an astounding discovery that could reverse the deterioration of tooth enamel that leaves our teeth open to decay.

There aren’t many bodily processes that are truly reversible, so this is pretty amazing.

And what’s more, this discovery could be translated into products that will help prevent tooth decay — within just a few years!

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Keratin could save tooth enamel

Researchers from King’s College London say keratin, a protein found in hair, skin and wool, can repair tooth enamel and stop the early stages of decay.

Unlike hair or bones, tooth enamel does not regenerate.

“Once it’s lost, it’s gone forever,” notes Dr. Sherif Elsharkawy, senior author of the study.

Right now, the best we can do to protect our tooth enamel is to use fluoride toothpaste that may slow the loss of enamel.

But Dr. Elsharkawy and his colleagues had a different idea…

They extracted keratin from wool fibers and mixed the keratin with water, where it formed a thin film.

They applied this film to a tooth sample, and when it came in contact with the minerals in saliva, it formed a strong, crystal-like coating similar in structure to natural tooth enamel.

What’s more, the longer it remained there, the more it attracted calcium and phosphate ions, forming a hard, protective layer over the tooth.

“Keratin offers a transformative alternative to current dental treatments,” says first author Dr. Sara Gamea.

“Not only is it sustainably sourced from biological waste materials like hair and skin, it also eliminates the need for traditional plastic resins, commonly used in restorative dentistry, which are toxic and less durable.

“Keratin also looks much more natural than these treatments, as it can more closely match the color of the original tooth.”

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Protect your smile for years to come

Keratin toothpastes for daily use or professional coatings applied at a dentist’s office could be available within the next few years.

But until then, there are plenty of things you can do to protect your tooth enamel and prevent tooth decay.

Avoid eating and drinking acidic foods and drinks between meals. Even “healthy” drinks like fruit tea with lemon is a “double whammy” – the acid and the heat are both destructive to tooth enamel.

Additionally, some fermented foods can also cause harm, such as kombucha or the hot apple cider vinegar you take for a cold.

But there’s a way around that…

Avoid sipping, swishing, holding, or rinsing drinks in your mouth before swallowing to decrease the amount of time those acids are touching your teeth. Wine tasters who swish acidic wines around in their mouths before swallowing, for example, have a high risk of enamel erosion.

Drink acidic drinks cold. Again, heat and acid are a bad combination. If you can drink your fruit tea iced, you’ll protect your enamel. Or try using a straw to keep it from touching your teeth.

Choose green tea. Studies show that green tea can actually protect you from losing tooth enamel — even if you are a fan of sugary drinks!

Sources:

Keratin extracted from sheep’s wool repairs teeth in breakthrough — Live Science

Biomimetic Mineralization of Keratin Scaffolds for Enamel Regeneration — Advanced Healthcare Materials

Toothpaste made from hair provides natural root to repair teeth — Eureka Alert

The post Weird toothpaste ingredient regenerates tooth enamel appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Unfortunately, in addition to a possibly slimmer body, those who take them have been confronted with unexpected (and “out there”) side effects.

From rebound weight loss that can only be avoided by staying on the drugs indefinitely — to pancreatitis, gastroparesis and intestinal blockage, it seems these medications might do more harm than good.

And that’s before you consider the reports that GLP-1 drugs also cause a loss of skeletal muscle mass, which makes it harder to keep the weight off, shrink cardiac cells and the heart itself and may cause vision loss.

However, as if that weren’t enough, it’s now being reported that there’s one more warning for anyone considering taking one of these drugs…

And this time, the danger is in your mouth…

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Oral health problems abound

These weight loss drugs are now being linked to cases of what’s being called “Ozempic mouth” or “Ozempic teeth.”

The most common oral problems people who take them are noticing include inflammation affecting the gums, tooth decay and even bad breath.

And doctors point out that all of these complaints can stem from one thing: dehydration, leading to a dry mouth.

“All of the GLP-1 agonists that we use now cause changes in how everything is secreted in your GI tract,” explains Ann Marie Defnet, MD, an obesity medicine physician and bariatric surgeon.

According to Dr. Defnet, this “definitely has an impact on saliva.” Although it might not be immediately apparent why these drugs would cause saliva to decrease, the process is actually pretty simple…

Basically, because GLP-1 agonists dramatically decrease hunger and often cause nausea, people taking them may also drink far less than usual, without even realizing it.

“I have patients all the time that [say], ‘Oh yeah, I can tell I’m dehydrated,'” Defnet says.

This can lead to complaints of a dry mouth and, over time, can result in periodontal disease and gingivitis.

Check your breath

Dehydration and dry mouth can also cause bad breath — an issue that can be made worse by the fact that people taking these drugs may eat little if any fat, putting their body into ketosis.

This can cause the breath to have a “fruity smell.”

To top it off, the nausea that comes with GLP-1 agonists can cause vomiting, which exposes the teeth to acid, which can wear down tooth enamel. It’s a downhill slide from there — which makes diligent oral care especially important.

“I think all of these sorts of symptoms, especially those in the mouth, are signs that you just need to take a little bit better care of yourself while taking these drugs,” Defnet said. “They’re definitely not completely benign. They have side effects.”

Her recommendation?

Anyone taking the drugs should do two things religiously: drink water even if you don’t think you’re thirsty, and pay close attention to your oral hygiene routine — which includes seeing a dentist regularly.

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Weight loss without the Ozempic teeth

For me, that list of side effects tied to these medications goes far beyond anything I would be comfortable risking.

Especially when there are many healthier weight loss practices shown to work, without nasty side effects, such as…

• Eating more oats – Oats contain a type of fiber that mimics how Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro work. Where do you think the drug manufacturers got their ideas? Oats are Mother Nature’s way of slowing digestion and helping you feel fuller longer.
• Ditching ultra-processed foods to lose twice as much without eating less – It’s easy! You can still eat moderately processed foods and experience decreased cravings and weight loss.
• An alkaline diet – Researchers led by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine analyzed a study in which adults lost 13 pounds in 16 weeks on one such diet.

There’s also been a lot of discussion about “Nature’s Ozempic” and the combination of omega-3 fatty acids and black seed oil. You can read up on them before you decide if they’re right for you.

Sources:‘Ozempic Teeth’: Another Effect of GLP-1 Agonists? – MEDPAGE TODAY

The post ‘Ozempic teeth’: Another weight loss wonder drug side effect appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Unfortunately, there is currently no better way to save a damaged or infected tooth than to undergo a root canal. So, it’s best to do everything you can to avoid having one in the first place.

Of course, good dental care is your first line of defense against the kind of tooth infection that leads to a root canal. But who couldn’t use an edge to stay out of the dentist’s chair…

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Exercise, omega-3 and tooth health

Caries, or tooth decay, can cause inflammation at the tip of the tooth’s root, or apex, and its surrounding area. If left untreated, the bacteria can reach the root canal and pass through it to the apex, causing an infection known as apical periodontitis. A form of gum disease, this condition can lead not only to tooth loss but also to bone loss.

“It’s a condition that patients may not even know they have because of its chronic nature, but which can evolve and lead to bone destruction and tooth mobility,” says Rogério de Castilho of the Araçatuba School of Dentistry at São Paulo State University (FOA-UNESP) in Brazil. “In addition, in specific situations, such as a drop in immunity, it can become acute, so the patient starts to feel pain, pus forms at the site, the face can become swollen.”

There’s also a two-way relationship between specific health conditions that can worsen apical periodontitis, including diabetes, metabolic syndrome, arteriosclerosis and kidney disease. At the same time, infection in the apex can exacerbate these diseases.

Castilho supervised a study in which researchers at FOA-UNESP induced apical periodontitis in 30 rats and divided them into three groups. The first group was left alone. The second and third groups underwent a 30-day swimming regimen. The third group also received dietary supplementation of omega-3, a polyunsaturated fatty acid that has proven therapeutic effects on chronic inflammation and associated diseases.

“In rats, physical exercise alone brought about a systemic improvement, regulating the local immune response,” says Ana Paula Fernandes Ribeiro, the first author of the study, carried out during her doctorate at FOA-UNESP. “In addition, when combined with supplementation, it further reduced the destructive condition caused by endodontic pathology.”

Benefits to bone and tissue

The study is the first to show that a combination of moderate physical exercise and omega-3 supplementation significantly reduces the inflammation caused by apical periodontitis. The combination of these activities:

• Limited bacterial progression.
• Reduced bone tissue loss.
• Regulated the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines.
• And stimulated the activity of fibroblasts, the cells that create and maintain tissue.

The authors note that the study provides new evidence of the benefits of exercise and omega-3 fatty acids for the immune system and oral health. Next, they would need to conduct a large clinical study to see if the same would be true in humans.

However, this study reinforced the findings of previous research that indicate omega-3 fatty acids could help fight off periodontitis and protect against the tooth pulp infection and loss that lead to root canal.

Keeping your teeth healthy could be the nudge you need to exercise regularly and add healthy omega-3s to your diet. Make sure you take a high-quality fish or krill oil supplement, or if you’re a fan of fish, eat at least two servings weekly.

Here are a few fish that are rich in omega-3:

• Mackerel
• Salmon
• Herring
• Oysters
• Sardines

Sources:

A combination of exercise and omega-3 reduces the severity of tooth root infections — Agência FAPESP

Physical exercise alone or combined with omega-3 modulates apical periodontitis induced in rats — Scientific Reports

What is a Root Canal? — American Association of Endodontists

The post The edge that could keep you out of the dentist’s chair appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

The gum inflammation that comes with periodontitis (gum disease) is associated with serious diseases  like heart disease, kidney disease and Alzheimer’s

But there’s an exceptionally complex relationship between gum disease and type 2 diabetes…

Periodontitis increases your risk of developing type 2 diabetes, and type 2 diabetes increases your risk of developing periodontitis.

In fact, people with diabetes are three times more likely to develop periodontitis. And the higher their blood sugar is, the worse their gum disease tends to be.

But it may be able to control both conditions with one simple, everyday practice…

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Can you gargle diabetes away?

Researchers from Japan’s Osaka University report that when people with type 2 diabetes gargled with an antiseptic mouthwash, the number of periodontitis-related bacteria decreased.

What’s more, they say some people achieved better control of their blood sugar.

“There are three highly virulent bacterial species that are linked to periodontitis, or diseases of the tissues surrounding the teeth,” explains lead author of the study, Saaya Matayoshi.

“We decided to see if we could reduce these three species — Porphyromonas gingivalis, Treponema denticola, and Tannerella forsythia — in patients with type 2 diabetes using a mouthwash containing the antiseptic chlorhexidine gluconate.”

The researchers took bi-monthly saliva and blood samples from 173 patients who gargled with water for the first six months, and then with the antiseptic mouthwash for the second six months.

The results were a little lackluster…

There was no overall change to HbA1c — and only younger patients had greater reductions in bacterial species and significantly better blood-sugar control with the mouthwash.

So is it worth a try if you’re on the mature side?

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Not so fast: Mouthwash may do more harm

No matter what your age, you may want to take those findings with a grain of salt…

In 2018, a much larger study analyzed data from 1,206 overweight and obese adults. Those who reported using mouthwash at least twice daily were 55 percent more likely to develop prediabetes or diabetes over three years.

Researchers suspect that the chemical compounds in mouthwash that kill bad bacteria also destroy “good” mouth bacteria that are needed to form nitric oxide, a naturally occurring chemical compound that helps regulate insulin, dilate blood vessels and support your cardiovascular system.

These findings were supported by two other previous studies as well.

Instead, keep your mouth healthy by staying on top of dental visits. Holistic dentists are more aware of the strong connection between oral health and its impact on the body and may guide you to practices and products that won’t do more harm than good.

You can also search online for a mouthwash that doesn’t contain alcohol or harsh ingredients like chlorhexidine gluconate.

And there is another powerful factor that could douse the relationship between periodontitis and diabetes — vitamin D.

A University of Toronto study found that people who had periodontitis and low levels of vitamin D had a diabetes risk that was “greater than the sum of the individual effects.”

And since that research from Toronto, we’ve also learned that supplementing vitamin D was associated with a 15 percent risk reduction for developing type 2 diabetes in adults with prediabetes.

It’s estimated that up to 40 percent of the U.S. population is deficient in Vitamin D, and older adults are most at risk. So make sure you’re getting enough.

Sources:

Gargling away the bad bacteria in type 2 diabetes — Eureka Alert

Effects of mouthwash on periodontal pathogens and glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus — Scientific Reports

Statistics about diabetes — American Diabetes Association

Low levels of vitamin D3 and periodontitis may trigger the onset of Type 2 diabetes — Medical Express

The post The weird connection between mouthwash, gum disease and diabetes appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Take, for example, the connection between gum disease and conditions such as cancer, diabetes, and kidney disease.

Many of us think of oral health as a separate entity from the rest of the body, because that’s exactly what the medical community has done. But this simply isn’t the case.

Your mouth is the gateway to the rest of your body. Keeping it clean prevents bacteria from fermenting and circulating throughout your body, triggering inflammation and disease.

And as if this weren’t enough, we’re finding that oral health and mental health are linked as well.

For people over 65, keeping your mouth healthy could lower your risk of experiencing depression and anxiety in your “golden years.”

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A healthy mouth = lower odds of depression and anxiety

A study of elderly adults in China found that people with better oral health were less likely to suffer from depression and anxiety.

They explored data from 3,188 people aged 65 and older who participated in the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey, a long-term project that tracks the health and well-being of senior adults.

Here are some of their interesting findings:

• People who brushed their teeth two or more times a day had a 22% lower chance of experiencing anxiety compared with those who brushed infrequently.
• People who ate fruits and vegetables daily were significantly less likely to develop anxiety.
• People who had undergone dental procedures to repair missing teeth had a 42% lower chance of experiencing depression.
• People who brushed their teeth regularly and ate fruits and vegetables daily were also less likely to suffer from dementia.

The study authors concluded that “oral health and dietary behavior are closely related to the susceptibility of middle-aged and elderly individuals to depression, anxiety, and dementia.”

But they are also quick to note that it cannot be assumed that poor oral hygiene causes depression or anxiety. In fact, the opposite relationship may exist, i.e., depression and anxiety may reduce a person’s ability to maintain good oral hygiene.

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Tips for added oral health benefits

Regardless of which causes which, we know that good oral hygiene is essential.

In case you’re not yet convinced that bad oral hygiene can be dangerous to your health, consider this:

• Skipping your brush-and-floss routine for just 24 hours can kick off periodontitis — severe gum disease that can lead to tooth damage or even tooth loss
• Klebsiella pneumoniae, a bacterium commonly found in the human mouth but rarely in the gut, can cause bowel disease and ulcerative colitis.
• Clinical trials have found that hospital patients who brushed their teeth twice daily had lower rates of hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP).

But what else can a person do besides brush and floss?

Plenty. And as with many things, it starts with nutrition:

• Bleeding gums may signal a vitamin C deficiency. Make sure you’re including citrus fruits, berries and cruciferous vegetables in your diet.
• DIM (diindolylmethane) supplements can help maintain a healthy oral microbiome (DIM is found in broccoli, but you’d have to eat TONS of it to have any effect on your oral health).
• Other supplements are also effective in preventing gum disease, including grape seed extract and echinacea.

The moral of this story: Take good care of your mouth and you’ll set yourself up for a longer, healthier and happier life.

Sources:

Better oral health linked to lower risk of depression and anxiety in older adults — PsyPost

Modelling analysis of dietary behaviors and oral health status to assess the impact on the mental well-being of elderly individuals: a cross-sectional survey study — Frontiers in Nutrition

The post The oral health-mental health connection for happy aging appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

I’ve read article after article talking about the connection between the health of my mouth and the health of other parts of my body. As weird as it may seem, fending off gum disease can have a direct impact on your heart, lungs and brain — and that’s just the start.

Now it looks like we can add another organ to that ever-growing list…

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The road from your mouth to your liver

Gum disease, also known as periodontitis, is a widespread chronic inflammatory condition caused by bacterial infections in the gum tissue of the mouth. Its severity tends to increase with age, smoking, alcohol use and poor dental care.

Not only can it wreck your dental health, leading to bleeding gums, bad breath and tooth loss — but it’s also linked to several other severe conditions, like heart disease, diabetes, dementia and maybe even cancer.

People with liver disease are already at higher risk for these dangerous conditions. So, for them, getting gum disease compounds those threats. But it gets worse…

An international team of researchers discovered multiple ways that periodontitis may directly aggravate liver disease — starting with the “oral-gut-liver axis”…

The bacteria that cause periodontitis can be swallowed or enter the bloodstream during activities like chewing or brushing and make their way to the gut. Once there, they can cause dysbiosis, an imbalance between good and bad microbes, and leaky gut, a condition that makes the gut lining permeable. Endotoxins — byproducts produced by bacteria — can then easily make their way to the liver, triggering inflammation and causing the type of damage that leads to liver fibrosis.

Previous studies have shown that bacteria such as the one that causes bad breath and gingivitis can exacerbate inflammation and a buildup of fat in the livers of mice with pre-existing metabolic diseases. These microbes or their byproducts have even been found in liver tissue, suggesting that movement from the mouth to the liver is not uncommon.

Next, the immune system gets involved: Chronic periodontal inflammation leads to the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-alpha and IL-6, which have been long associated with the progression of liver disease. In addition, the review highlights Th17 cells, a type of immune cell activated by oral pathogens that may travel to the liver and worsen metabolic dysfunction.

The bottom line: These pathways form a terrible merry-go-round of liver disease-impairing oral health and inflammation that drives liver damage.

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Human studies reinforce the connection

Data from human studies support this association. Patients with cirrhosis consistently demonstrate worse oral health than the general population, with higher rates of gingival overgrowth, tooth loss and bone loss. In fact, the prevalence of periodontitis among patients awaiting liver transplants can be as high as 72 percent!

Other studies have found links between severe periodontal disease and increased death risk in cirrhosis patients — and that people with advanced periodontitis are much more likely to have metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), the most common form of chronic liver disease. This was true even after adjusting for risk factors like obesity and diabetes.

One small trial showed that periodontal treatment led to a short-term improvement in liver enzyme levels, indicating that oral health interventions may influence liver function.

The review authors caution that this research is still in the early days. However, the review calls for better collaboration between specialists who manage liver disease and dental professionals who manage oral healthcare.

In the meantime, it’s clear that oral hygiene is paramount, especially for those with chronic liver conditions, as well as twice-yearly dental visits. Take note of any changes to alert your dentist to — like persistent bad breath and red, swollen, tender or bleeding gums.

A dental probiotic can boost the oral microbiome. You’ll want the dental probiotic to be in a form that allows it to stay in the mouth for enough time to be absorbed by the microbiome. Some good delivery forms are lozenges, drinks, mouth rinses or chewable tablets.

If you have liver trouble, ask your doctor about supplements. Omega-3s have been shown to support liver health and guard against gum disease.

Sources:

Bad breath, bad news: how gum disease could worsen liver conditions — EurekAlert!

Periodontal disease and cirrhosis: current concepts and future prospects — eGastroenterology

The post Why bad breath is a red flag for liver trouble appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

But what if I told you that the prognosis for a person with COPD is a lot worse if they don’t brush their teeth regularly and well?

WHAT?! How are these two things possibly connected?

It may seem absurd at first glance. However, research has long shown that the health of the mouth is closely linked to the health of the body. One example is the connection between gum disease and heart disease.

Now, scientists have shown us that there’s a similarly strong connection between your gums and your lungs…

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The bacterial link between gum disease and COPD

Periodontitis, or gum disease, is a result of the buildup of plaque on the teeth over time.

Plaque is a sticky film made mostly of bacteria. Over time, if not treated, plaque can harden into tartar and cause inflammation of the gum tissue. This produces gaps between teeth and gums, the perfect place for more bacteria to flourish.

The result is periodontitis, or gum disease, which has already been found to be a risk factor for diabetes, hypertension, heart disease… and COPD.

A team of Chinese researchers has conducted several mouse studies that have identified the mechanism by which periodontal bacteria aggravate the progression of COPD.

First, they showed that mice with COPD and infected with periodontitis had worse progression of COPD than mice with COPD alone.

In a second experiment, they observed that when mice were orally infected with the bacterium P. gingivalis (a bacterium that causes gum disease), the bacteria migrated to and infected the lungs.

Finally, they showed that P. gingivalis could activate immune cells in the lungs, promoting their ability to produce cytokines (small proteins) associated with exacerbating COPD symptoms.

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Protect your mouth… and your lungs

“By enhancing periodontal therapy and targeting the inhibition of γδ T cells and M2 macrophages, we may be able to help control the progression of COPD,” said microbiologist Boyu Tang, Ph.D., who led the study with microbiologist Yan Li, Ph.D.So, if you want to protect your lungs, start by protecting your gums..

To prevent gingivitis, stick to a regular brushing and flossing routine. Skipping as little as 24 to 72 hours can cause changes in your oral microbiome — the population of good and bad bacteria in your mouth —that can trigger periodontitis.

Some natural foods and supplements can support you in the battle against mouth bacteria that cause gum disease…

• Drink matcha tea (green tea). When used as a mouthwash, green tea killed all P. gingivalis bacteria within four hours!
• Vitamin C, calcium, magnesium, and CoQ10 supplements all support healthy teeth and gums.
• Cut down on sugar intake. The bacteria that cause gum disease feed on sugar, so your goal is to starve them to death. Cut refined sugar and carbohydrates out of your diet and your mouth, and the rest of your body will be healthier.
• Drink plenty of water. It will keep you hydrated but also aid in removing bacteria and preventing gum inflammation.
• Consider a fish or krill oil supplement for healthy omega-3s. They are associated with lung health and fight the inflammation associated with gum disease.

Sources:

How gum disease aggravates chronic obstructive pulmonary disease — Science Daily

Periodontitis aggravates COPD through the activation of γδ T cell and M2 macrophage — American Society for Microbiology

New Study Shows 24-72 Hours of Poor Oral Hygiene Impacts Oral Health — Eureka Alert

The post The troubling effect gum disease has on COPD appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Poor dental hygiene can upset the balance of the oral microbiome and can lead to diabetes and kidney disease, heart disease and stroke risk.

There’s also a link between poor oral health and the health of the brain. One study found people who were genetically predisposed to cavities, missing teeth or needing dentures had 24 percent more white matter hyperintensities — or lesions — on their brains, which raises the risk for impaired memory, balance and mobility, and silent cerebrovascular disease.

Now, investigators have discovered a connection between dental health and a second marker of poor brain health…

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Gum health and the hippocampus

A team of Japanese researchers sought to investigate whether there was a link between poor oral health and dementia.

“Tooth loss and gum disease, which is inflammation of the tissue around the teeth that can cause shrinkage of the gums and loosening of the teeth, are very common, so evaluating a potential link with dementia is incredibly important,” says study author Dr. Satoshi Yamaguchi of Tohoku University in Sendai, Japan.

Their study involved 172 people with an average age of 67 who had no memory problems at the start of the study. They gave participants dental exams and memory tests at the beginning of the study. They also underwent brain scans that measured hippocampus volume since shrinking in this part of the brain has been linked to cognitive decline. The brain scans were repeated four years later.

In the dental exam, researchers counted the number of teeth and identified the level of gum disease among participants.

Sure enough, the researchers found a link between the number of teeth and level of gum disease and changes in the left hippocampus of the brain — but the results were a little unexpected…

For participants with mild gum disease, having fewer teeth was associated with a faster rate of brain shrinkage in the left hippocampus. However, for people with severe gum disease, having more teeth was found to be connected to a more rapid rate of shrinkage in the same area of the brain.

Once they adjusted for age, the researchers calculated that the increase in the rate of brain shrinkage due to one less tooth in people with mild gum disease was equal to nearly one year of brain aging. For people with severe gum disease, the increase in brain shrinkage due to one more tooth was equivalent to 1.3 years of brain aging.

Yamaguchi notes the results highlight the importance of not only retaining teeth but preserving their health.

“The findings suggest that retaining teeth with severe gum disease is associated with brain atrophy,” he says. “Controlling the progression of gum disease through regular dental visits is crucial, and teeth with severe gum disease may need to be extracted and replaced with appropriate prosthetic devices.”

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Prevention is key for healthy gums and brain

Finding the exact cause of Alzheimer’s disease is still elusive. However, studies like this and others that find an association with certain conditions or practices provide starting points for prevention.

The more we learn about what causes brain shrinkage, the more we can adopt habits, like napping, eating blueberries, losing weight, and getting good oral/dental care, to keep a healthy, plump brain as long as possible.

My colleague Joyce Hollman put together tips for healthy gums, and I’m sharing them here so you can get started today caring for your gums and your brain…

1. Brush the right way. Hold your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to your teeth so your teeth and gums get cleaned.
2. Toothbrush care: Store your brush upright, in open air. If you alternate between two brushes (a good idea), don’t let them touch and contaminate each other. Get new brushes every three months.
3. Use a gum stimulator. A rubber-tipped stimulator cleans between teeth and massages the gums.
4. Floss regularly. Leaving food between your teeth is a sure way to invite bacteria into your gums.
5. Get your vitamins. Vitamin C can help curb bleeding gums, while vitamin D has been shown to reduce signs of early gum disease by as much as 20 percent. More importantly, vitamin D deficiency is associated with accelerated brain aging — and smaller brain volume. So start taking a high-quality D supplement today for double the protection!
6. Drink tea. Both black and green tea contain antioxidants that prevent plaque buildup.
7. Use mouthwash. Just make sure you’re using the healthy kind. Alternatively, swish and rinse with peroxide and water, half of each. Just don’t swallow it. Three times a week will help inhibit bacteria.
8. Don’t smoke and consume alcohol rarely. Both habits rob your body of vitamins and minerals that keep your mouth healthy.
9. Scrape your tongue. Bacteria and toxins love the warm, moist environment of your tongue. Scrape with a toothbrush, popsicle stick, tongue depressor or small spoon.
10. Eat a raw vegetable a day. Hard, crunchy foods stimulate teeth and gums to prevent disease.

Sources:

Taking good care of your teeth may be good for your brain — ScienceDaily

Associations of Dental Health With the Progression of Hippocampal Atrophy in Community-Dwelling Individuals: The Ohasama Study — Neurology

The post What receding gums signal about this shrinking organ appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

He was in his mid-40s, the same age as my husband and I, at the time.

Even though it came as a shock, it shouldn’t have. In my work, I see the data regularly and know that colon cancer has been on the rise among people under 40 for several years now.

As more and more research is being carried out to get to the root causes and slow the tide, a disturbing revelation may have just been found in a surprising place — the mouth.

Traveling from the mouth to the gut

We’re used to discussing the gut microbiome.

But your mouth has a microbiome as well — a community of millions upon millions of bacteria — some good, some bad and some outright dangerous.

And it’s one of the latter that scientists from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center say is responsible for fueling colon cancer growth to make it far more deadly.

The name of the bacteria is Fusobacterium nucleatum. And past research has shown it can infect tumors, like a virus infecting a healthy cell.

It has also been shown to cause chemoresistance (making chemotherapy less effective for those undergoing treatment).

Now, researchers have been able to prove that a subtype of the bacteria, the tumor-infiltrating Fna C2 type, is the one responsible.

Their work showed that this one subtype of the bacteria had acquired distinct genetic traits allowing it to travel from the mouth through the stomach, withstanding stomach acid, and landing in the lower gastrointestinal tract.

This makes it one of the biggest colon cancer risks around.

“We’ve consistently seen that patients with colorectal tumors containing Fusobacterium nucleatum have poor survival and poorer prognosis compared with patients without the microbe,” explained Susan Bullman, Ph.D., Fred Hutch cancer microbiome researcher and co-corresponding study author. “Now we’re finding that a specific subtype of this microbe is responsible for tumor growth.”

Specifically, their study showed that:

• The Fna C2 subtype is significantly enriched in colorectal tumor tissue
• The subtype causes abnormal cells in colorectal tissue to grow exponentially
• The Fna C2 lineage is found in approximately 50% of cases colorectal cancer cases.

“We have pinpointed the exact bacterial lineage that is associated with colorectal cancer, and that knowledge is critical for developing effective preventive and treatment methods,” said study co-author Christopher D. Johnston, PhD.

A healthier mouth for a healthier gut

Fusobacterium nucleatum is commonly found in dental plaque. So you know what that means…

Your first line of defense is practicing good oral hygiene and seeing a dentist regularly to have any plaque removed.

But there are some practices, a little off the beaten path, that could help as well…

• Use a red wine mouthwash –Spanish researchers have found that that two polyphenols found in red wine — caffeic acid and p-coumaric acid — help prevent harmful bacteria like Fusobacterium nucleatum from attaching to gum tissue where they can start their trip to the gut. This means that swishing out your mouth with a bit of red wine rather than traditional mouthwash could be the key to better colon health.
• Try DIM – Diindolylmethane (DIM) has been shown to reduce the biofilms that produce plaque and cavities by a whopping 90 percent. By disrupting the biofilms, bacteria are not given a chance to grow.
• Chew Greek gum – A gum made from mastic resin has been found to reduce the amount of cavity-causing bacteria in your mouth, lower plaque levels and reduce gum inflammation.
• Use probiotics – Finally, don’t forget to take probiotics, which boost the level of good bacteria in your body, daily. Probiotics are even available in a chewable form designed specifically for oral health. You can find them online or at your local supplement store.

Sources:

Bacteria subtype linked to growth in up to 50% of human colorectal cancers, Fred Hutch researchers report – EurekAlert!

The post Why the fight against colon cancer might start in your mouth appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

That’s the mantra we’ve heard since childhood, and the advice most of us follow when it comes to our oral health. But something is missing in that advice.

That’s because if you’re not also cleaning your tongue, you’re not getting rid of smelly bacteria that still produce bad breath. But there’s another significant reason to make a clean tongue a habit…

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Your tongue: a window to your health

When your doctor asks you to stick out your tongue and say “ahhh,” there’s plenty he can see beyond signs of a sore throat, issues with tonsils, drainage or infection.

They’re also looking at your tongue itself, which can offer insight into your overall health, including nutritional deficiencies, oral cancer or underlying conditions that the color and surface of your tongue can reveal.

Your doctor also looks closely at the direction of your tongue when you stick it out. They’re looking for deviations to one side, which can signal a brain lesion, stroke or carotid dissection.

What does that stuff on your tongue indicate?

Luckily, cleaning your tongue is an easy way to do a quick health assessment and sweep away the plaque and microbes that can lead to bad breath.

Be sure to note any changes in how it looks or feels so you can talk to your doctor as needed.

Some signs you might see include:

• White coating – A white coating is standard and usually not something to worry about. This change generally occurs if you’ve skipped out on your regular oral health routine due to plaque buildup, food debris and microbes. It’s your body telling you to get back to brushing!
• Yellow coating – If you see a yellow coating on your tongue, it could be time to see your doctor since this color indicates a fungal infection, such as oral thrush, which is common among older people and diabetics. It can also develop due to antibiotic use, which kills off the good bacteria in your oral microbiome.

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• Red tongue plus yellow coating – Research has even shown that your tongue can reveal heart failure. Normal tongues are pale red with a pale white coating. Heart failure patients have a redder tongue with a yellow coating, and the appearance changes as the disease progresses.
• Black coating – A black, hairy-looking tongue is often due to a combination of poor oral hygiene and smoking, drinking lots of coffee or tea or taking certain medications. Most of the time, you can get rid of this coating by simply improving your oral hygiene at home. However, in some cases, the coating can result from an overgrowth of bacteria or fungi, which requires antibiotics or antifungal medications.
• Pink patches – Patches that are smooth and red, often with slightly raised borders, that make your tongue look like a map are called geographic tongue. It’s an inflammatory but generally harmless condition.
• White or red patches – On the other hand, if you have patches that are either white or red, which cannot be scraped off, have been there a long time or have grown, be sure to see your doctor or dentist, since these could be a sign of cancer.

Other issues to note include dry mouth, which can be caused by certain medications, including antihistamines, antidepressants, muscle relaxants and more.

And be aware of any pain or inflammation, since a sore, red tongue could be due to a lack of vitamin B12 or folic acid, ulcers or injuries.

Cleaning your tongue each time your brush your teeth gives you the chance to proactively get ahead of health conditions you may need to alert your doctor about.

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How to clean your tongue

To clean your tongue, you can either use a plastic or metal tongue scraper or gently scrub your tongue with a regular toothbrush.

For the freshest breath, you’ll probably want to choose a tongue scraper. Research that assessed two separate studies found that they are more effective than toothbrushes in reducing the volatile sulfur compounds that cause breath odors.

To use a tongue scraper:

1. Stick out your tongue.
2. Place the scraper at the back of your tongue and slowly pull forward, applying gentle pressure.
3. Spit out excess saliva and rinse your mouth and tongue scraper with warm water.
4. Repeat two to three times.

A healthy tongue after cleaning should be dark pink. If it’s not, bring it up to your dentist or doctor.

Sources:

Yes, you do need to clean your tongue. Here’s how and why — StudyFinds

Black Hairy Tongue — Cleveland Clinic

Geographic Tongue — Mayo Clinic

The post Need an excuse to clean your tongue? Try these alarming conditions appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

However, despite mounting evidence, many of us are still hooked on soda and other sugary drinks.

Research has found clear links between sugar-added drinks and accelerated aging, liver cancer, diabetes and heart disease.

In addition, sugar and tooth decay go hand-in-hand… but bad teeth may be the least of your worries if you make a habit of consuming sugary drinks.

That’s because now research has linked them to a higher risk for oral cancer…

Higher risk than smoking and alcohol

Researchers at the University of Washington found that it doesn’t take much to tip the scales against you when it comes to sweet drinks and elevated risk of oral cancer.

They looked at records that covered the dietary habits of a group of women over a 30-year period. Of the 162,602 women,124 developed oral cancer during that time.

But here’s the kicker: women who drank one or more sugary drinks per month were nearly five times more likely to develop oral cancer than those who drank less than one per month.

Two sodas per month. It doesn’t seem like a lot, right? But it could be enough to multiply your risk of oral cancer by five.

And it gets even more serious…

You might be thinking, “Well, what’s one guilty pleasure when overall I follow most of the rules for living a healthy lifestyle?”

That may not be enough. Even among women who didn’t drink or smoke, the ones who drank two sugary drinks per day were at 5.46 times the risk of oral cancer than those who drank one or none per month.

Oral cancer is linked to papillomavirus (HPV) infection, but also to lifestyle habits, including smoking, chewing tobacco and heavy drinking. So, it’s really alarming that oral cancer is on the rise among people outside of those typical risk factors.

Reducing this latest risk for oral cancer

Oral cancer is a potent incentive to give up sugary drinks. But you might need to consider other dietary changes as well.

That’s because the researchers think an inflammatory diet may be part of the reason oral cancer is impacting people outside of those typical risk factors…

“A Western dietary pattern has increasingly been recognized as a risk factor for gastrointestinal tract cancers and is characterized by high consumption of saturated fats, processed foods and added sugars,” according to the researchers.

“Our hypothesis is that diets with higher added sugar may contribute to chronic inflammation, which may, in turn, contribute to the risk of OCC.”

If you make changes to reduce sugar, do it the right way. That means not reaching for artificial sweeteners. They don’t have the all-clear yet…

The researchers feel studies are needed to confirm whether soft drinks with artificial sweeteners would be just as harmful and could have the same cancer connection.

So, how can you kick the habit? Here are a few tips.

Drink water instead. Soda cravings are often really just thirst, and water is much better at quenching thirst. Keep a pitcher or bottle of water close at hand.

Keep soda at a distance. Don’t buy it or keep it in your home. But if you do and the craving hits, take a walk instead, putting actual physical distance between you and that drink.

Have a healthy sweet treat instead. Try fresh fruit. If you’re truly thirsty, try coconut water or fruit-flavored sparkling water.

If you drink a lot of soda, cut back gradually to avoid headaches, fatigue and irritability. If you feel like you miss the caffeine, try coffee. Coffee has many health benefits and is associated with a lower risk of head and neck cancers.

Be sure to stay hydrated with water throughout the day. You can do this!

Sources:

Oral Cancer Cases Are on The Rise, And Sugary Drinks Could Be to Blame — Science Alert

High Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Intake and Oral Cavity Cancer in Smoking and Nonsmoking Women — JAMA Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery

The post Sugary drinks linked to rising rates of oral cancer appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Then I started writing about health and discovered that I couldn’t have been more mistaken if I’d tried.

It’s a confirmed fact that your mouth is the gateway to either health or disease in your body. Diabetes, kidney disease, and heart disease have all been linked to poor oral health.

So, I didn’t find it surprising at all that the same molecule that can help protect against strokes can also lower the risk of needing a painful root canal procedure.

Or that a nutrient we often don’t get enough of can help…

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Resolvins resolve dental problems

A group of molecules known as resolvins regulate excessive inflammation caused by infection and disease.

Previous research into the effects of omega-3s on stroke risk identified resolvins as the body’s “stop signals.”

That study found that resolvins are formed from omega-3s and bind to a receptor called GPR32. This activated the receptor’s ability to counteract inflammation in blood vessels, essentially switching off inflammation and stimulating tissue repair and healing.  

This process is known as resolution of inflammation. It plays a crucial role in diseases like atherosclerosis, where GPR32 has become dysregulated and cannot control inflammation.

Come to find out, resolvins may also be the future of dental care…

Pulpitis is an inflammation of the dental pulp that can result from cavities, cracks or trauma to a tooth. It can escalate into a serious health issue if left untreated and usually requires a root canal procedure.

A study published in the Journal of Dental Research found that when Resolvin E1 (RvE1) was applied directly to infected dental pulp, the pulp was regenerated to a significant degree.

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And even when the pulp was too severely infected to be regenerated, resolvins still slowed the rate of infection and reduced inflammation.

According to the researchers, “In infected pulps exposed to the oral environment for 24 hours, RvE1 suppressed inflammatory infiltration, reduced bacterial invasion in root canals, and prevented the development of apical periodontitis, while its proregenerative impact was limited.”

With more research, this promises to eliminate the need for painful root canals. Wouldn’t that be great?

Harnessing the power of resolvins

Now, your dentist may not be able to offer a new treatment featuring resolvins quite yet. But the next best thing — besides taking good care of your teeth — may be ensuring you take in plenty of omega-3s.

In addition to the stroke study that ties omega-3s to resolvins, another one tied the essential fatty acids to fighting off periodontitis which can lead to gum disease.

Getting your omega-3s is easy. Just look for a high-quality fish or krill oil supplement, or if you’re a fan of fish, eat at least 2 servings a week.

Here are a few that are rich in omega-3s:

• Mackerel
• Salmon
• Herring
• Oysters
• Sardines

Sources:

Dental care breakthrough could make root canals obsolete — MSN

RvE1 Promotes Axin2+ Cell Regeneration and Reduces Bacterial Invasion — Sage Journals

The post The discovery that could make root canals obsolete appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

The implications of poor oral health are far-reaching and alarming. It’s not just about cavities and bad breath. It’s about potential brain shrinkage, dementia, weakened immune system against viruses, diabetes, and even cancer. These findings should serve as a wake-up call for all of us to take our oral hygiene seriously.

Now, a study reveals one more reason why good oral hygiene is a must: if you want to avoid stroke and atrial fibrillation, you’ve got to floss.

Here are the details…

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Reducing artery-hardening infection and inflammation

The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study followed up with more than 6,200 participants for an incredible 25 years – meaning this was no flash-in-the-pan study, but instead one with results you can take to the bank.

What was found was that flossing your teeth at least once a week could help lower the risk of stroke caused by a blood clot blocking brain blood flow, as well as the chance of developing irregular heartbeats.

Overall, the researchers found that flossing just once weekly led to:

• A 22% lower risk of ischemic stroke
• A 44% lower risk of cardioembolic stroke (blood clots traveling from the heart)
• A 12% lower risk of atrial fibrillation or AFib

And if you think those benefits are impressive, just wait…

According to the researchers, increasing the frequency of flossing led to an even greater reduction in stroke risk.

When asked how flossing could offer such impressive heart and blood vessel benefits, study lead author Souvik Sen, M.D. explained, “Oral health behaviors are linked to inflammation and artery hardening. Flossing may reduce stroke risk by lowering oral infections and inflammation and encouraging other healthy habits.”

Simply put, harmful bacteria in your mouth, along with their inflammatory byproducts, can cross into your bloodstream, where they work at hardening your arteries and causing clot formation.

This turns your blood vessels and heart into a ticking time bomb.

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Better oral care for stroke and AFib prevention

So, how do you prevent this time bomb from ticking down to zero?

One thing is clear-regular teeth brushing, flossing, and dental visits are not just a routine, they are a necessity. These simple habits can go a long way in preventing serious health issues, giving you the confidence that you’re taking the right steps for your health.

Next, consider switching to oil pulling, rather than using traditional mouthwashes, which can raise your blood pressure.

And be sure to keep your oral microbiome (the balance of good and bad bacteria in your mouth) healthy by:

• Giving up smoking which raises your risk of gum disease
• Drinking plenty of water throughout the day to keep your mouth from drying up
• Trying a dental probiotic that can boost levels of healthy bacteria in your mouth

Finally, remember that your mouth needs extra care if you’re over 50.

That’s because the enamel on the outside of your teeth is more likely to be worn down, and your gum tissue naturally recedes as you age. To top it off, you’re far more likely to experience dry mouth issues that compromise the oral microbiome due to lowered function of the salivary glands with age, along with medications that can lead to dry mouth.

Sources:

Regular dental flossing may lower risk of stroke from blood clots, irregular heartbeats — EurekAlert!

The post Why flossing could prevent stroke and atrial fibrillation appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

And unfortunately, the problems caused by periodontitis don’t stop in your mouth.

In fact, gum disease has been linked to heart disease, cognitive decline, reduced respiratory function, and even lung cancer.

It’s clear oral hygiene is important not only to the health of your mouth but your whole body.

However, experts warn that most over-the-counter oral hygiene products are disinfectants that can be highly irritating to the sensitive tissue of your mouth and gums. They can also kill of bacteria necessary for the production of nitric oxide for healthy arteries.

So how can you care for your mouth and ward off periodontitis, without causing more harm?

Researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University believe they’ve found the answer hidden in two tasty fruits…

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The flavonoid secret for a healthy mouth

Initially, the team set out to test seven natural flavonoids against a bacteria called Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis). Because P. gingivalis is frequently detected in deep periodontal pockets, it is considered to be the most critical bacterium in periodontal disease.

But why flavonoids?

Research has shown they possess various physiological activities, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The seven chosen to tackle P. gingivalis also demonstrated antimicrobial properties, meaning they could reduce or fight infection.

Yet, when it came down to it, a single one stood out.

Known as prunin laurate or Pru-C12, it’s a compound found in grapefruit peel and coconut.

And while previous studies had already shown it to be antimicrobial, no one knew just how effective it could be against P. gingivalis to ward off gum disease.

In in vitro and mouse studies, the Osaka scientists found that Pru-C12:

1. Stopped the growth of P. gingivalis
2. Blocked biofilm formation (bacterial communities that form a sticky network on the surfaces of your teeth and gums)
3. Inhibited alveolar bone resorption (bone destruction that’s a hallmark of periodontitis progression)

And Pru-C12 was non-cytotoxic — meaning it wasn’t irritating.

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A natural way to care for your mouth

So how can you put the results of this research to work to improve your oral health?

While eating more grapefruit and coconut might seem the way to go, I’m doing something a bit different.

Oil pulling is an alternative recommendation by holistic dentists for oral healthcare and is super easy to incorporate into your daily life.

After brushing, simply put one tablespoon of coconut oil in your mouth and gently work it around, swishing or pulling it between your teeth. Do this for at least 10 minutes and up to 20, with practice.

When done, simply spit it out and rinse your mouth with warm water containing a little sea salt. You might want to run a little hot water down the sink to keep oil from building up in your plumbing or spit it into a cup to dispose of elsewhere.

You can even buy coconut oil with grapefruit essential oils already added. Some people have to avoid grapefruit due to medications. If that sounds like you, ask your doctor what he thinks about swishing with it. If it’s a no-go, stick to just the coconut oil.

For even more help in the battle against gum disease, consider fish oil supplements. Researchers believe it could be a less invasive periodontal therapy for reversing the damage it does.

Sources:

Protect your teeth with fruit: antimicrobial effects found in biomass compounds — ScienceDaily

Prunin Laurate Derived from Natural Substances Shows Antibacterial Activity against the Periodontal Pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis — MDPI

The strong link between gum disease and heart failure — Easy Health Options

2 more ways gum disease can kill you — Easy Health Options

A fresh mouth can give you high blood pressure — Easy Health Options

The post The antimicrobial fruit combo that fights gum disease appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

The most common bacteria that can cause pneumonia and is typically found in the mouth is Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus).

The longer you let the bad bacteria brew, the more likely they are to travel to other places in your body — especially your lungs…

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See your dentist to keep pneumonia away

Researchers from Virginia Commonwealth University found that regular dental visits can reduce your risk of developing the dangerous respiratory infection, pneumonia, by an astounding 86 percent.

These researchers examined the health and dental records of 26,000 people and concluded that those who never visit the dentist for check-ups are 86 percent more likely to develop pneumonia than people who visit the dentist twice a year.

Of course, if you’ve only missed one or two dental visits, your pneumonia risk isn’t quite that sky-high. But you’re heading down a dangerous road…

A 2014 study confirmed the perils of putting off your dental visits too. In this study, Brazilian researchers found that people in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) who received extensive dental care from a dentist were 56 percent less likely to develop a respiratory infection while in the hospital than those who just received run-of-the-mill dental care.

Clearly, there’s a connection between bad bacteria in your mouth and bad bacteria in your lungs… which makes perfect sense. If there are more bad bacteria lurking around anywhere in your body, there’s a greater risk of it going rogue and causing serious health problems.

And it’s not only your lungs that are affected. Bad mouth bacteria can make their way to your heart, blood and other organs too. It’s even been tied to an increased risk of cancer.

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Next-level oral hygiene

When life gets busy, it’s easy to let healthy practices fall to the wayside… including your biannual trip to the dentist.

But don’t put twice-yearly dental visits off too long. Because, if you do, it could set the stage for a serious infection. With the cold, flu and COVID viruses now circulating, we’ve got more to contend with. About a third of all pneumonia cases start as a respiratory illness.

Of course, it’s also critical to practice good oral hygiene in between dentist visits. That includes obvious habits like brushing and flossing daily, as well as less obvious habits like eating a healthy diet, supplementing for oral health and practicing the ancient art of oil pulling.

If you want to try it (my holistic dentist swears by it!) any edible oil will do, even though after using it to rid your mouth of nasty bacteria you should spit it out. Popular ones include coconut, sunflower or sesame seed oil. I am a fan of black seed oil because its known to promote a balanced immune system response and is effective against the inflammation that’s so closely tied to gum disease.

It comes in bottle or supplement form. I take a black seed oil supplement, so since I keep them on hand, I will break one open and mix it with a little coconut oil. Here’s a short primer on how to do it:

1. Put about 1 tbsp of oil in your mouth
2. Swish it around your mouth for about 15 minutes
3. Spit out the oil, then proceed with brushing your teeth

Sources:

1. “Regular dental visits may help prevent pneumonia, study shows.” ScienceDaily. https://www.sciencedaily.com. Retrieved April 5, 2017.

2. “Proper dental care linked to reduced risk of respiratory infections in ICU patients.” ScienceDaily. https://www.sciencedaily.com. Retrieved April 5, 2017.

3. T. Bellissimo-Rodrigues, et al. “Effectiveness of a Dental Care Intervention in the Prevention of Lower Respiratory Tract Nosocomial Infections among Intensive Care Patients: A Randomized Clinical Trial.” Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, 2014; 35 (11): 1342.

The post How to reduce pneumonia risk by 86% appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

But your oral microbiome is the second largest microbiome in your body. And a growing body of evidence indicates a relationship between oral health and healthy aging, including whole-body health and longevity.

Both good and bad bacteria exist there too — and an imbalance there can quickly raise your odds of gum disease, also known as periodontitis.

Not only can periodontitis eat away at the jawbone and the soft tissues that surround teeth, it can cause other problems in the body, such as type 2 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, heart disease and cognitive issues.

Now it looks like these bad bacteria can increase a specific cancer risk…

Oral bacteria linked to head and neck cancers

Using lifestyle data gathered from three ongoing studies, researchers tracked 159,840 Americans, focusing on factors involved in cancer.

When each participant first enrolled, they provided saliva samples that preserved the number and species of bacteria in their oral microbiome, to be used in testing. Researchers then followed up for 10 to 15 years to identify and record any presence of tumors.

Investigators analyzed bacterial and fungal DNA from the saliva samples, then identified 236 patients who were diagnosed with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), a group of cancers that includes the most common cancers of the mouth and throat.

They compared the DNA of the oral microbes of the HNSCC patients with 458 randomly selected cancer-free study participants — and their findings were stark…

Of the hundreds of different bacteria routinely found in the mouth, 13 species were shown to either raise or lower risk of HNSCC. And overall, the group with these species had a 30 percent greater chance of developing HNSCC. In combination with five other species often seen in gum disease, the overall risk was increased by 50 percent.

This isn’t the first time experts have observed a link between poor oral health and HNSCC. While small studies have tied some bacteria in the oral microbiome to these cancers, the exact bacterial types most involved have remained unclear.

“Our findings offer new insight into the relationship between the oral microbiome and head and neck cancers,” says study lead author Dr. Soyoung Kwak, a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Population Health at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. “These bacteria may serve as biomarkers for experts to flag those at high risk.”

Reduce your risk (and not just with your toothbrush)

This latest report is the largest and most detailed analysis of its kind to date. But while the added risks from these bacteria are concerning, the researchers note that, overall, cases of head and neck cancer remain fairly uncommon.

Still, study co-senior author Dr. Richard Hayes says the results emphasize the importance of keeping up good oral hygiene habits. “Brushing your teeth and flossing may not only help prevent periodontal disease, but also may protect against head and neck cancer,” adds Hayes, a professor at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and a member of its Perlmutter Cancer Center.

We all know that drill: brush your teeth twice a day, floss once a day and visit the dentist for a thorough cleaning every six months. Skipping any of these steps even for one day is a recipe for gum disease and disruption of the oral microbiome.

But are there other actions you can take to combat the bad oral bacteria that can cause disease? Thankfully, the answer is yes.

• If you’re a smoker, quit (and definitely don’t use smokeless tobacco products).
• Keep your mouth moist by drinking plenty of water (and avoiding sugary drinks and alcohol).
• Take a dental probiotic (especially ones in a lozenge, drink, mouth rinse or chewable form).

Some dentists also suggest avoiding harsh toothpaste and antibacterial mouthwash, excess sugar and inflammatory foods, and recommend adding micorobe-promoting fermented foods to your diet.

Sources:

Bacteria involved in gum disease linked to increased risk of head and neck cancer — EurekAlert!

Oral Microbiome and Subsequent Risk of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Cancer — JAMA Oncology

A Healthy Oral Microbiome – The Key to Systemic Health— Fallbrook Medical Center

The post How bacteria linked to gum disease increase cancer risk appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

But more than poor sleep, OSA increases seven cardiovascular complications that can skyrocket your risks for heart trouble and type 2 diabetes.

Getting an accurate diagnosis, however, is not easy. It usually requires a visit to a sleep clinic and require the use of complicated monitoring equipment at home. My husband experienced this firsthand and even had to redo his home test several times before getting an accurate reading.

Fortunately, there may be a new place to find out if OSA is putting your health in danger so you can do something about it — one that you should already be visiting every six months…

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Your dentist could help diagnose sleep apnea

An international team of researchers conducted a narrative review studies centered around the neuroscience of sleep, particularly in relation to dental medicine. The intention was to provide knowledge to dental professionals regarding sleep and its role in patient health.

“Dentists can be the first line of defense in identifying sleep disorders,” says Davis Thomas, a professor at the Rutgers School of Dental Medicine and senior author of the review. “They often see symptoms long before physicians. Indicators like tooth grinding, tongue scalloping, or even a patient dozing off in the chair can be early signs that something more is going on.”

The researchers list several physical symptoms dentists should check for during their dental exams. These include:

• Enlarged jaw muscles
• Scalloped tongue edges
• White lines on the cheeks
• Educed throat visibility
• Dental wear patterns
• and tiny cracks on teeth

By combining this physical exam with a patient’s medical history and other screening tools, dentists may be able to spot up to 80 percent of at-risk patients.

“It’s not just about looking at teeth anymore,” Thomas says. “We need to observe the whole patient, from their behavior in the waiting room to the subtle signs in their oral cavity.”

Another condition dentists are paying close attention to is bruxism, or teeth grinding. Studies show this isn’t just due to a dental misalignment but can be a symptom of underlying sleep problems.

“By understanding the neuroscience behind sleep disorders, we can provide more comprehensive care and potentially prevent serious health complications,” Thomas says.

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When to get checked for sleep apnea

In addition to checking for symptoms, dentists are encouraged to do the following:

• Include sleep-related questions in patient history forms
• Train dental staff to recognize physical signs of sleep disorders
• Use screening tools to identify sleep apnea

One popular screening tool, the STOP-BANG questionnaire, measures snoring, tiredness, observed apnea, blood pressure, body mass index, age, neck size and gender.

The review also advises dentists to stay up to date with the latest sleep research and how it can apply to their practice. These simple actions could prevent future complications such as high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke.

Holistic and naturopathic dentists may already be ahead of the curve when it comes to sleep apnea. Like alternative or integrative physicians, they tend to treat causes instead of just symptoms.

For example, poor alignment of the jaw that can push the tongue and pharyngeal tissue backwards, restricting the airway. Other oral contributors to OSA can be mouth breathing and tongue positioning when relaxed.

A knowledgeable dentist can recommend an oral appliance called a mandibular advancement device (MAD) that prevents the lower jaw from slipping back during sleep. Tongue-retaining devices are also an option.

If you’re in an at-risk group for OSA, you might want to be tested. If your sleep specialist decides an oral appliance is a good option, they can refer you to a dentist who can help with a proper fitting.

Risk factors for OSA include:

• Age (50 or older)
• Sex (male)
• Obesity
• Congestive heart failure
• Atrial fibrillation
• Endocrine disorders (including diabetes)
• Smoking
• Alcohol use
• Use of sedative or hypnotic medication

Sources:

Your dentist may save your life from sleep apnea — StudyFinds

The enigma of sleep — JADA

Obstructive Sleep Apnea — National Library of Medicine

The post How a dentist could save you from sleep apnea appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

And you probably already know that avoiding triggers that can set off a cascade of worsening symptoms is especially important.

In fact, things like passing by a smoker as you leave a building, days with higher levels of air pollution — and even the summer heat — can make it difficult to manage your condition.

But what you may not know is this: a seemingly unrelated health problem can not only aggravate your symptoms — but actually accelerate the progression of COPD.

And it starts in your mouth…

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Triggering COPD flare-ups

According to research published in the American Society of Microbiology Journals, bad bacteria in your mouth can result in COPD flare-ups by increasing lung inflammation.

Here’s how it works according to the researchers…

It all starts with a bacteria known as Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis). If that sounds familiar, it’s the bacteria that causes periodontitis or gum disease.

And while having the bacteria in your mouth is bad enough — after all, who wants to deal with bleeding, gums, loose teeth and other oral health problems — P. gingivalis doesn’t just stay in your mouth.

In fact, previously it’s been linked to lots of illnesses not at all related to oral health, including heart disease.

Now researchers have found that when it comes to COPD, P. gingivalis can travel to the lungs where it activates lung immune cells, which drive lung inflammation.

Because COPD already causes lung inflammation, gum disease is like fuel on a fire and can exacerbate progression of the disease.

Gum disease and whole-body health

Beyond damaging your lungs and making COPD worse, the bacteria can also:

• Travel to your brain where it could increase your chances of Alzheimer’s
• Lead to hypertension
• Double your risk of heart failure
• Put you on the fast track to cancer

Clearly, what happens in your mouth isn’t like Vegas — it doesn’t stay in your mouth.

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Keeping gum disease at bay

Of course, the first step to battle back bad oral bacteria that can aggravate your COPD and damage your health in so many ways is to brush and floss and see your dentist at least once a year.

But there are also other things you can add in to boost your oral health dramatically…

That can include taking these four supplements that have been shown to fight gum disease and help you keep a healthy mouth.

And to take it to the next level, try drinking or even just swishing out your mouth with matcha tea once or twice a day.

This green tea on steroids has been shown to have the power to kill all bad oral bacteria in just four hours flat.

Finally, if you enjoy a glass of red wine, it’s good to know that it has been shown to have three compounds that promote a healthy mouth.

COPD is a condition that requires the care of a physician, but research has shown some supplements can help:

Omega-3s: Like those found in fatty fish, fish oil or krill oil, have been associated with lung health.

Vitamin D: According to the American Thoracic Society, a vitamin D deficiency causes deficits in lung function and structure.

Both vitamin D and omega-3s also have anti-inflammatory properties. Spices like turmeric, ginger and black seed oil are also powerful anti-inflammatories.

Just check with our doctor to be sure nothing interferes with your medication.

Sources:
Periodontitis aggravates COPD through the activation of γδ T cell and M2 macrophage — American Society for Microbiology

The post What happens in your mouth could damage your lungs appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Unhealthy gums have been linked to weight gain, lung infections, heart failure, brain shrinkage and prostate trouble.

And this one may shock you: Poor oral health is one of the ten leading causes of loss of healthy longevity!

Luckily, there’s a new hero on the horizon to put a stop to those risks, by pulling the plug on the bacteria responsible for the disease in the first place — and it already has an impressive reputation as an anti-aging superfood…

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Green tea on steroids

The hero is matcha — a supercharged green tea made from the raw leaves of the Camellia sinensis green tea plant.

In fact, much of the amazing benefits of matcha come from the fact that it has 137 times more antioxidants than regular green tea.

That means 137 times more free-radical scavenging, inflammation-fighting and anti-aging power — in one little cup!

And that could be just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to matcha especially when you consider that simple green tea extract can stop the growth of dangerous germs like E. coli.

It’s even been shown to keep P. gingivalis (the bacteria responsible for gum disease) from growing and reduce its adherence to the epithelial cells in the mouth.

Matcha versus gum disease

Researchers in Japan decided to put matcha to the test against P. gingivalis in a two-step test to determine the winner.

First, they pitted a matcha solution against 16 oral bacterial species, including three strains of P. gingivalis.

The matcha mouthwash showed little activity against healthy strains of oral bacteria. This is good news because regular mouthwash, like what you get at the drugstore, damages the oral microbiome by killing good bacteria in your mouth responsible for health-promoting processes.

But within 2 hours, nearly all the cultured P. gingivalis cells had been killed. After four hours of exposure, all the gum disease-causing germs were dead.

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Next, the researchers recruited 45 people with chronic periodontitis, randomly assigning them to three groups.

One group used barley tea mouthwash, the second was given a mouthwash made from matcha extract and the third went with a prescription mouthwash for inflammation.

And after analysis, the matcha mouthwash users were the clear winners…

The analysis revealed that patients in the group that used matcha mouthwash showed a significant reduction in the level of P. gingivalis compared to the two other groups.

Raise a cup for a healthy mouth

So if you’re ready to fight off gum disease, consider ditching your traditional mouthwash and trying matcha instead.

You could make it a habit to sip a cup or two during your day, or even allow it to cool and swish it around your teeth and gums.

Matcha is easy to find both online and in grocery stores. It’s typically a powdered tea you whisk into hot water.

It’s definitely worth a try. Some holistic dentists even say, that according to studies, it may protect teeth from erosion and reverse tooth decay.

In addition to adding matcha to your oral care routine, follow these 6 steps to reduce your risk for gum disease naturally.

Sources:

Matcha mouthwash inhibits bacteria that causes periodontitis — EurekAlert!

Green Tea and Your Teeth: How Matcha Improves Oral Health — Rejuvenation Health

The post The tea that takes down gum disease-causing bacteria appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

But there are a lot of other benefits to good oral hygiene. Like your gut, your mouth has its own microbiome filled with all kinds of bacteria. And if you don’t take care of it, the bad bacteria could begin to run rampant.

Oral microbes have been linked with diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, pneumonia, heart disease, cognitive abilities and pregnancy outcomes. In fact, one study shows regular dental visits can reduce your risk of developing pneumonia by a whopping 86 percent.

Now, researchers are exploring whether something as simple as brushing your teeth, especially during a hospital stay can reduce the risk of serious respiratory complications. And what they’ve discovered is pretty astounding…

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The respiratory impact of toothbrushing

Hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) is a serious infection of the lungs that occurs after a patient has been hospitalized. It is more common in people whose breathing is being assisted by a ventilator.

HAP occurs in between 5 and 20 out of 1,000 hospital admissions and from 2.5 to more than 6.1 cases per 1,000 patients not admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU).

Previously, the recommendation was to use oral chlorohexidine rinses to prevent ventilator-assisted pneumonia. But it turned out its use for oral decontamination in the ICU was linked with increased mortality. This has caused a lack of clarity on which strategies to use to prevent HAP.

A team of researchers decided to investigate whether daily toothbrushing could help lower the risk of HAP. They conducted a review and meta-analysis of 2,786 patients in clinical trials and found that those whose teeth were brushed twice daily had lower rates of HAP and ICU mortality. That means they were less likely to contract HAP and less likely to die in the ICU.

“It’s unusual to find a preventative strategy that lowers mortality rates,” Dr. Michael Klompas of Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston tells MedPage Today. “And to think that it’s something as simple and inexpensive as toothbrushing is remarkable.”

That’s not all the researchers found. Patients receiving invasive mechanical ventilation showed a significant reduction in pneumonia incidence, while the results were not significant in those not receiving the treatment. Daily toothbrushing was connected with an average of 1.24 fewer days on ventilation and 1.78 fewer days in the ICU.

There were similar outcomes for brushing twice a day compared to more frequent brushing.

Klompas tells MedPage Today he hopes the results will give doctors “an enhanced appreciation of the importance of toothbrushing in hospitalized patients.”

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Clean mouth, healthier body

The study authors note that while the study does suggest toothbrushing could also prevent non-ventilator HAP, more data is needed to confirm that possibility.

But even with study limitations, there’s solid indication that it’s important to keep your mouth clean and see a dentist regularly — and lots of previous research backs that up.

Regular dental visits and regular brushing can help you avoid or get ahead of things like gum disease that has been linked to cancer, diabetes, kidney disease and even prostatitis.

If you wear dentures, take precautions as well. According to researchers, if dentures are not cleaned properly, they could provide a new surface where pneumonia-causing bacteria can colonize. Then, when people wear those dentures, they may be inhaling saliva containing these microbes into their lungs, where infection can take hold.

Source:

Toothbrushing Linked to Lower Risk of Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia — MedPage Today

Association Between Daily Toothbrushing and Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia — JAMA Internal Medicine

Daily Toothbrushing to Prevent Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia—Brushing Away the Risk — JAMA Internal Medicine

Comprehensive risk assessment for hospital-acquired pneumonia: sociodemographic, clinical, and hospital environmental factors associated with the incidence of hospital-acquired pneumonia — BMC Pulmonary Medicine

The post Brushing twice daily may keep respiratory illness away appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

This powerful phytonutrient antioxidant found in cruciferous vegetables like broccoli can naturally support hormone and immune system balance, promote detoxification and may carry clout against some cancers.

And that’s not all it can do…

Researchers are discovering DIM may have applications in oral health against one of the oldest and most common diseases found in humans — dental caries — or as we know it more commonly, tooth decay.

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DIMinishing tooth decay

Your mouth has its own microbiome, a system of microbes that not only support healthy teeth and strong gums but help to maintain the overall health of the body. When the balance of that microbiome is upset, such as by not cleaning your teeth properly, too much sugar or pH that’s too low, it can cause unfriendly bacteria to grow.

One of those unfriendly bacteria, Streptococcus mutans, is believed to be one of the primary causes of dental cavities.

S. mutans grows in the moist and sugary environment of your mouth after you eat food. It forms a thin, sticky layer known as a biofilm that coats your teeth and is composed of a self-sustaining community of bacteria bound tightly together.

Once it has a stronghold on the surface of your teeth, the biofilm generates plaque, which then attacks the enamel of your teeth and causes cavities to form.

There are plenty of toothpastes and mouthwashes to help address dental plaque and keep your mouth clean. Regular twice-yearly dental checkups also do their part.

But experts are always looking for ways to improve plaque removal and prevent cavities. And they may have found it in DIM.

An international team of researchers studied DIM for dental use, and they made an astonishing discovery…

The molecule reduces the biofilms that produce plaque and cavities by a whopping 90 percent. By disrupting the biofilms, the S. mutans bacterium was not given a chance to grow.

In addition, DIM was found to have anticarcinogenic properties. S mutans has been associated with oral cancers.

“The molecule, which was found to have low toxicity, could be added to toothpastes and mouthwashes to greatly improve dental hygiene,” says lead author Dr. Ariel Kushmaro, a professor atthe Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel.

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Adding DIM to your healthy lifestyle

Until they manage to add DIM effectively as an ingredient to oral health products, you’ll have to settle for getting DIM by eating foods or taking supplements containing the molecule.

Unfortunately, getting DIM through diet can be difficult. If you want to obtain enough DIM to harness its health benefits, you would need to eat 7 cups of broccoli every single day. That’s a tall order even for broccoli lovers.

That’s one reason supplementing is a good idea. Another is research showing that DIM supplements are more effective than DIM from food sources because they are better absorbed by the body.

The minimum recommended daily dosage for DIM is 100 milligrams, though some experts recommend women get at least 200 milligrams and men at least 300 milligrams per day.

But don’t forget to brush and floss twice a day and see your dentist regularly!

Sources:

Adding natural molecule to toothpastes and mouthwash may help prevent plaque and cavities — EurekAlert!

3,3′-Diindolylmethane (DIM): A Potential Therapeutic Agent against Cariogenic Streptococcus mutans Biofilm — Antibiotics

The post The supplement that may soon fight tooth decay appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

There’s another big downside to periodontitis — its link with heart problems. Gum disease has been associated with a number of cardiovascular issues, including high blood pressure, heart disease and heart failure.

Investigators have been working to get a better understanding of this connection. And they’re getting closer to finding the root cause…

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Coronary artery disease and the oral microbiome

A team of Scandinavian researchers studied nearly 9,000 participants in SCAPIS (Swedish Cardiopulmonary Bioimage Study). The participants were aged 50 to 65 and had no overt heart disease.

They examined the participants’ coronary artery calcium scores and coronary computed tomography angiography, as well as inflammatory markers in their saliva. The researchers also assessed gut microbiota species using sequencing of fecal samples.

Results showed a correlation between the Streptococci species in saliva and worse dental health, increased C-reactive protein, and higher artery calcium scores — independent of cardiovascular risk factors. The bacteria Streptococcus anginosus (most often found in the abdominal cavity) and Streptococcus oralis (found in the mouth) had the strongest associations.

What this means is the researchers found a direct link between systemic inflammation, coronary artery disease and certain bacteria commonly found in the mouth.

The researchers say if this link is causal, these bacterial species might contribute to the process of atherosclerotic plaque formation either by direct infection or by altering host metabolism. Further studies are needed to determine whether these bacteria can be used as potential biomarkers or treatment targets.

The peril of hidden gum infection

Studies like this one, which show how the oral microbiome impacts the health of the whole body, emphasize how important it is for clinicians to address periodontitis to help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Daniel Chong, a naturopathic doctor and cardiovascular specialist with BioLounge in Portland, Ore., tells Integrative Practitioner he asks patients about their dental hygiene and dental health, including any history of gum disease or root canals.

“If necessary, I readily refer patients to dentists who are well versed in this area and have the capacity to do 3D Cone-Beam Computed Tomography and oral bacteria evaluation to better rule out subtle infections and assess the patient’s overall microbiota picture,” Chong tells Integrative Practitioner.

If you have been diagnosed with heart disease or other cardiovascular issues, it might be a good idea to ask your dentist if they can conduct these scans for you. That way, you can get a sense of the health of your oral microbiome and whether you have any nasty staph bacteria lurking deep in your gums that needs to be dealt with.

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Gut plays a role as well

This study highlights the dangers of certain oral bacteria. But research has also shown that managing the gut microbiome, which is linked with the oral microbiome, can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Chong tells Integrative Practitioner this can be done through specific probiotic strains such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium in general and Lactobacillus rhamnosus in particular.

You can get probiotics from diet or supplements. Many Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains can be found in fermented foods, particularly yogurt, miso and tempeh.

When shopping for probiotic supplements, check to see whether the one you have in mind contains the strains mentioned above. And it’s even better if the supplement also contains prebiotics, which give the probiotic something to feed on.

Sources:

1. More Evidence Links Oral Health and Gut Bacteria to Cardiovascular Disease — Integrative Practitioner

2. Streptococcus Species Abundance in the Gut Is Linked to Subclinical Coronary Atherosclerosis in 8973 Participants From the SCAPIS Cohort — Circulation

3. Periodontitis — Mayo Clinic

The post The link between your mouth, strep and coronary artery disease appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Did you know that they are right up there with green tea and red grapes for their polyphenol content?  That’s right. Research shows that onions (especially red onions) are more powerful at fighting inflammation than a lot of ‘healthy’ vegetables like broccoli and spinach.

And onions can help make quick work of a summer cold. They’re rich in flavonoids and vitamin C to boost your immune system — and quercetin which acts as an antihistamine and relieves nasal congestion

There’s only one problem with this magnificent but underrated vegetable.

To put it bluntly, they make your breath smell bad — really bad — for hours at a time.

Here’s an explanation of why, along with ten natural ways you can take care of that problem —because no one should give up the benefits of eating onions…

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Why onions make your breath smell bad

There are two ways that onions can give you “onion breath.”

The first happens when you eat an onion. Chewing it releases its sulfur compounds, which mix with the bacteria in your mouth. That’s why you can smell onion in your breath right after eating.

But why does it last so long? That has to do with digestion. When you digest an onion, those sulfur compounds get absorbed into your bloodstream. They make their way to your lungs, where they are released as a foul odor every time you exhale.

Here are ten ways to deal with onion breath. Some are “emergency,” after-meal methods, while others are preventive measures, taking into account the fact that the sulfur from an onion stays in your bloodstream long after you’ve digested it.

10 natural ways to deal with onion breath

1. Drink green tea. Drinking green tea several times a day can minimize bad breath when you do eat onions. Ironically, green tea is rich in polyphenols, just as onions are. But these polyphenols work like antioxidants, killing the sulfurous compounds in raw onions. However, you can drink too much green tea and experience adverse effects. Try blending berries — also very high in polyphenols — into a smoothie or drink mix for similar benefits.

2. Lemons. Rinse your mouth with lemon water two or three times a day, or just after eating raw onions. A tablespoon of lemon juice in a cup of water can help neutralize onion breath. Also, the citric acid in lemon juice can kill other bacteria that also cause bad breath. Just be sure and rinse your mouth with water afterward, so the acidic lemon juice doesn’t erode your tooth enamel.

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3. Mustard sauce. This one is more of an emergency measure. Swishing mustard sauce in your mouth for a minute can help mask the onion smell.

4. Chew on some cardamom. Among its many health benefits, this Indian spice is well-known as a digestive aid. If you like the taste, chew on a whole cardamom pod and your onion breath will soon be gone.

5. Apples. The natural enzymes in an apple break down the sulfur compounds in onions and eliminate the cause of onion breath.

6. Apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar seems to have a million-and-one health benefits. Now you can add neutralizing onion breath to the list. Just rinse your mouth with apple cider vinegar and water to neutralize the odor.

7. Baking soda. Rinsing your mouth with baking soda dissolved in water will neutralize the smell of onions and, as a bonus, will help control the growth of bacteria in the mouth.

8. Drink milk. The fat content in milk neutralizes the sulfur in onions. Milk is also a natural mouth rinse.

9. Mint. Chewing on mint leaves will get rid of onion breath. The chlorophyll in the leaves helps freshen your breath and mask onion odor. Alternatively, breath mints and chewing gum will do the job. Just be sure and go for the sugar-free kind, especially if this is your go-to method.

10. Brush your teeth. If all else fails, brush your teeth with plenty of toothpaste right after eating onions.

Sources:

10 Quick Ways Get Rid of Onion Breath — Carefree Dental

10 Health Benefits of Cardamom, Backed by Science — Healthline

The post 10 natural ways to make ‘onion breath’ go away appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

With these odds, older adults need to protect themselves as best they can from any bacteria or illness that can lead to pneumonia, taking extra precautions, especially during cold and flu season.

But there’s a year-round threat quietly sitting on nightstands and sink counters in approximately 36 million homes across the country that few of us know about…

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Getting pneumonia from your false teeth

In a study, researchers at Cardiff University in the U.K. took mouth, tongue and denture swabs from a group of denture-wearing patients hospitalized with pneumonia. The researchers compared these swabs to samples taken from patients in care homes who wore dentures and did not have pneumonia.

Then, the team analyzed the samples to identify the types and abundance of microbes present, including any microbes that could cause pneumonia.

“We were expecting to see a difference but were surprised to see 20 times the number of potentially pneumonia-causing bacteria on dentures in people with pneumonia, compared to people without,” says Dr. Josh Twigg, lead author of the study.

According to Twigg and his team, if dentures are not cleaned properly, they could provide a new surface where disease-causing microbes can colonize. Then, when people wear those dentures, they may be inhaling saliva containing these microbes into their lungs, where infection can take hold.

What happens with dentures is that they eventually become coated with thin layers of sticky bacteria known as biofilms. Experts say these bacteria form self-sustaining microbial communities bound together by a kind of matrix that adheres tightly to surfaces, making them much more difficult to remove than separate bacteria. Because dentures are made of porous materials, they act as a sort of reservoir for the biofilms and allow the bacteria within them to thrive.

This isn’t the first time pneumonia-causing bacteria have been found on dentures. In an earlier study, bacteria that causes pneumonia, including the dangerous MRSA strain, were discovered on more than 60 percent of the dentures examined.

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Don’t let your dentures become a bacterial reservoir

Dr. Twigg says the study shows the importance of cleaning dentures thoroughly. Simply rinsing them off in the sink or shower isn’t enough.

If you wear full or partial dentures, dental experts recommend you take the following steps to ensure they remain as clean as possible:

• Each time you eat, rinse your dentures and your mouth out afterward.
• Brush your dentures every evening using a toothbrush and toothpaste specifically designed to clean the special materials your dentures are made from. Some experts even recommend using soap and water instead of denture toothpaste for extra cleaning power.
• Brush your mouth in the morning before putting your dentures in and in the evening after taking them out. Use a regular toothbrush, not the one you use to clean your dentures.
• Soak your dentures overnight in a denture-soaking solution rather than plain water.
• Rinse your dentures before you put them in your mouth in the morning.

Researchers in Brazil found that microwaving dentures for 3 minutes helps kill off bacteria, including the MRSA strain. You should absolutely check with your dentist before trying this to see if microwaving will cause damage to your dentures. And of course, if your dentures contain any metal parts, you can’t put them in the microwave.

The Brazilian researchers also were able to destroy bacteria by soaking dentures in a solution of 2 percent chlorhexidine gluconate, a germicidal mouthwash, for 10 minutes. However, this chemical may be too harsh for daily use.

When cleaning your dentures, you may want to stand over a bowl of water or a folded towel so that they don’t break if you drop them. If you do drop your dentures, make sure you re-sanitize them.

Finally, never sleep in your dentures, as this can make it more likely for bacteria to migrate from your dentures into your body. One study found that people in their late 80s who slept in their dentures had double the risk of pneumonia.

Sources:

Could your false teeth give you pneumonia? — EurekAlert!

Compositional shifts within the denture-associated bacteriome in pneumonia – an analytical cross-sectional study — Journal of Medical Microbiology

Dirty dentures? Dangerous MRSA may be lurking, dentists say — NBC News

Could Your Dentures Be Making You Sick? — Really Smile

Are your dentures making you sick? — The Waterford Dentist

Denture cleaning — Oral Health Foundation

Pneumonia Prevention — National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

The post Pneumonia: The surprising threat to denture wearers appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

This serious infection of the gums can not only damage the soft tissue of your mouth, but it can actually erode the bone that supports your teeth and lead to tooth loss.

Unfortunately, treatment for periodontal disease is not pretty — ranging from planing the roots of your teeth to surgery and tissue and bone grafting.

But research has found a much simpler and less invasive periodontal therapy for reversing the damage, one that gets to a “root” cause of an inflammatory process gone wrong…

Natural periodontal therapy for healthier gums

The study, which was part of the Ph.D. research of Emmanuel Albuquerque de Souza at the University of São Paulo’s Dental School (FO-USP) in Brazil and was conducted at the Forsyth Institute, an affiliate of the Harvard School of Dental Medicine in the United States, found that fish oil offers new hope in the fight for healthy gums.

And it’s all about the way these healthy fatty acids work against inflammation.

You see, there are two stages of inflammation in your body. The first happens when your body senses a threat and rushes all of the inflammatory cells to the area of danger to fight for you. This is a stage you need to keep your body running and even your gums healthy.

But the second stage is just as important — if not more so. That’s because the second stage is when that inflammation is turned off or resolved and your body activates stem cells to repair any tissue damage.

And heads up — that’s the stage that never seems to happen in periodontal disease. This means that you get all of the inflammation, with none of the resolution or stem cell activation that can keep your teeth from falling out.

Enter fish oil…

Using omega-3s to resolve inflammation

When you get omega-3 fatty acids in your diet, whether in a supplement or through the fish you eat, your body is able to make substances called “pro-resolving lipid mediators.” In other words, they’re fats that help resolve inflammation.

Two of those inflammation-busting mediators are maresin and resolvin. Stimulating the release of these mediators could be a way to improve the success rate of so-called regenerative therapy. “The study shows for the first time that these two mediators enhance stem cell regenerative capacity even in the presence of inflammation,” said Marinella Holzhausen Caldeira, a professor in FO-USP’s Department of Periodontics

This means that taking fish oil, a significant source of omega-3 fatty acids, may help:

• Stimulate periodontal ligament stem cells. The periodontal ligament is one of the structures lost in severe cases of the disease.
• Accelerate the production of inflammation resolving lipid mediators
• Create a favorable environment for stem cells in the gums to function properly

And it’s not the first study to find that fish oil could aid in the battle against gum disease.

In fact, recent clinical studies have shown that combining fish oil with basic periodontal therapy helps improve results, especially in patients with conditions like blood sugar problems and metabolic syndrome linked to inflammation.

Sources:

Periodontitis, Symptoms and Causes — Mayo Clinic

Periodontal Disease — CDC

Molecules derived from omega-3 can regenerate inflamed periodontal tissue — EurekAlert!

Periodontitis, Diagnosis and Treatment — Mayo Clinic

The post The answer to gum disease found in fish oil appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Odd question, I know. But if you have, then it’s almost a guarantee that you’ve been breathing through your mouth at night instead of your nose.

Mouth breathing every once in a while isn’t necessarily a bad thing. But if you habitually breathe through your mouth, you could be putting yourself at risk of a lot of health complications.

Let’s talk about those and why it’s important to know all the signs as well as how to retrain your breathing habits to use your nasal airways instead of your mouth…

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4 problems mouth breathing can lead to

Some of the less serious effects of mouth breathing include dry mouth and bad breath. However, mouth breathing can also cause real damage to your health…

Take sleep apnea, for instance. In adults, night mouth breathing is responsible for almost all incidences of obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS). With obstructive sleep apnea, your breathing is interrupted during sleep for longer than 10 seconds at least 5 times per hour on average. Sudden drops in blood oxygen levels that occur during OSA increase blood pressure and strain the cardiovascular system.

According to research, people with OSAHS typically have a mix of its four phenotypes, and no one treatment works for all. However, since mouth breathing is the primary condition that leads to the type of pharyngeal airway collapse that can cause OSAHS, breathing re-education (BRE) can help in most cases. (More on that in a minute.)

Mouth breathing can also lead to dental problems and gum disease. Much of the harm comes from the fact that it has a major impact on your saliva. When mouth breathing dries out your mouth, there’s less saliva to wash out bacteria that flourish on the teeth and gums and can lead to tooth decay, gingivitis and gum disease. A dry mouth can also throw off the pH balance in your mouth by changing acidity levels. An unhealthy level of acidity can degrade your tooth enamel.

Mouth breathers tend to have posture problems and muscle fatigue because they carry their heads forward to compensate for a restricted airway. This poor posture can lead to neck pain, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) tension, compression of the spinal discs, early arthritis, tension headaches and bite problems. It also causes the muscles in the chest to tighten, making it even harder to breathe.

Mouth breathing can also result in the ineffective release of nitric oxide (NO). NO is a signaling molecule that is naturally produced by the body and contributes to many health functions. You may have heard of the nitrate–nitrite–nitric oxide pathway which produces NO from certain foods we eat. But NO is also taken into the body from the nasal airways where it flows to the lungs and is absorbed into the bloodstream to oxygenate the blood. Of course, this hinges on nasal breathing. Mouth breathers miss out and their cells don’t get as much oxygen. That can lead to fatigue and disorders made worse by low NO, including some that affect heart health.

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Training to breathe through your nose

So, how do you know if you’re a mouth breather? And how can you stop?

As I mentioned before, a puddle of drool on your pillow is one sign. A constantly stuffy nose also pretty much guarantees you’ll be breathing through your mouth. Other signs include snoring, dry mouth or lips, bad breath, cavities, poor sleep, sore throat, morning headaches, cold symptoms, frequent sinus or respiratory infections, red or inflamed gums, crowded teeth, digestive issues and brain fog.

If you’re not sure you’re a mouth breather, you can have a professional conduct a Glatzel mirror test to see if the breath is being exhaled symmetrically through the nose. The test also checks for breathing obstructions like enlarged adenoids or a deviated septum.

To switch from mouth to nasal breathing during rest, exercise and sleep, you need to undergo breathing re-education (BRE). BRE includes exercises that improve the strength and function of breathing muscles like the diaphragm. It also involves restoring the proper resting position of the tongue, which is important in sleep apnea because it maintains an open airway.

Myofunctional Therapy (MT) is helpful to re-educate the tongue muscles and improve tone and function in the upper airways. MT can also restore nasal breathing during sleep.

There’s also the Buteyko Breathing Method, developed in the 1950s by Russian respiratory physiologist Dr. Konstantin Buteyko. This breathing technique has been used by Patrick McKeown to train elite athletes in optimal breathing. Here is a 10-minute video in which McKeown demonstrates the Buteyko method if you want to try it for yourself.

Sources:

Benefits of Breathing through Your Nose — drglante.com

Five Critical Facts Everyone Should Know About Mouth Breathing — Dentalroots.com

Breathing Re-Education and Phenotypes of Sleep Apnea: A Review — Journal of Clinical Medicine

Obstructive Sleep Apnea — Johns Hopkins Medicine

Could Breathing Re-Education Answer the Need for Personalized Sleep Apnea Treatment? — Dental Sleep Practice

The post 4 ways mouth breathing wrecks your health appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Studies have found links between poor oral health and conditions ranging from severe COVID-19 infection to diabetes and kidney disease and, especially, heart disease.

Other research has shown that not brushing your teeth well, skipping out on dental visits to remove plaque, having missing teeth and gum disease are all factors that contribute to increased stroke risk.

This led the American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association, to look more closely into how dental health impacts brain health.

And considering that 3 in 5 Americans will develop a brain disease in their lifetime, it makes sense to modify any behavior that can help you keep your memory and critical thinking skills working in tip-top shape…

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Bad oral health linked to bad brain health

Clearly, the mouth is a gateway to health or disease.

But according to study author Cyprien Rivier, M.D., M.S., a postdoctoral fellow in neurology at the Yale School of Medicine, “What hasn’t been clear is whether poor oral health affected brain health, meaning the functional status of a person’s brain, which we are now able to understand better using neuroimaging tools such as magnetic resonance imaging or MRI.

“Studying oral health is especially important because poor oral health happens frequently and is an easily modifiable risk factor — everyone can effectively improve their oral health with minimal time and financial investment.”

To that end a team of researchers analyzed the potential link between oral health and brain health among 40,000 UK Biobank enrollees with an average age of 57 who had no history of stroke.

The participants were screened for 105 genetic variants known to predispose a person to cavities, dentures and missing teeth later in life. Then, researchers evaluated the relationship between these genetic risk factors for poor oral health and brain health.

Using MRI, the researchers were able to assess signs of poor brain health, mainly white matter hyperintensities and microstructural damage.

According to the analysis, people who were genetically prone to cavities, missing teeth or needing dentures exhibited a 24 percent increase in the amount of white matter hyperintensities visible on the MRI images. This means their burden of silent cerebrovascular disease was higher and so was their risk for impaired memory, balance and mobility.

Also, those with overall genetically poor oral health showed a 43 percent change in microstructural damage to the fine architecture of the brain.

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Genetics versus healthy habits

Cerebrovascular disease refers to a group of conditions that affect blood flow and the blood vessels in the brain. Problems with blood flow may occur from blood vessel narrowing, clot formation, artery blockage or blood vessel rupture.

If that’s not incentive enough to ramp up the care of your mouth, I’m not sure what is. But what about the genetic factor researchers included in this study?

As previous studies diving into genetics and health conditions have shown, lifestyle habits make a significant difference…

Joseph P. Broderick, M.D., FAHA, a professor at the University of Cincinnati Department of Neurology and Rehabilitation Medicine and director of the University of Cincinnati Gardner Neuroscience Institute in Cincinnati, Ohio, adds “Environmental factors such as smoking and health conditions such as diabetes are much stronger risk factors for poor oral health than any genetic marker — except for rare genetic conditions associated with poor oral health, such as defective or missing enamel.”

So instead of worrying about any genetic factors that could increase your risk of dental problems, focus on taking care of your mouth.  Keep brushing your teeth at least twice a day, floss at least once a day and visit the dentist at least twice a year for a cleaning and checkup.

If you’re a smoker or smokeless tobacco user, you need to stop. Both these activities raise your risk of gum disease, and smokeless tobacco use can also increase your risk of tooth decay and tooth loss.

Sources:

Poor oral health may contribute to declines in brain health — American Heart Association

 Genetics and Oral Health — American Dental Association

Smokeless Tobacco: Health Effects — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Diabetes and Oral Health — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The post The link between your toothbrush and silent brain damage appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

However, there’s one extremely common heart problem that can throw all of that into disarray.

Atrial fibrillation, or AFib, is a type of arrhythmia — or abnormal, often rapid heartbeat — that is expected to affect over 12 million Americans by 2030. It’s a condition that not only increases the risk of stroke but can also cause memory problems before that ever happens.

Luckily, avoiding certain factors that lead to AFib can cut your risks by half.

This means doing things like losing any excess weight, giving up smoking and managing high blood pressure and diabetes.

And according to researchers at Hiroshima University, it also means keeping your gums healthy…

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Gum disease and scarring of the heart

That’s because according to the researchers, periodontitis, a disease of the gums that can lead to bleeding and bad breath, can also leave your heart scarred and struggling to maintain a healthy rhythm.

So what made the scientists take the unlikely step of looking in the mouth for the cause of a heart problem?

“Periodontitis is associated with a long-standing inflammation, and inflammation plays a key role in atrial fibrosis progression and atrial fibrillation pathogenesis,” said study author Shunsuke Miyauchi. “We hypothesized that periodontitis exacerbates atrial fibrosis.

So, the researchers set out to prove that theory.

The team analyzed the heart muscle of 76 patients with AFib, comparing it to the amount of gum disease they suffered.

And the results clearly showed that the worse the level of periodontitis a person lived with, the worse the fibrosis, or scarring, in the left upper chamber of their heart — a condition that is known to lead to AFib.

“This study provides basic evidence that periodontitis can aggravate atrial fibrosis and can be a novel modifiable risk factor for atrial fibrillation,” said corresponding author Yukiko Nakano.

In other words, if you modify the amount of gum disease you have for the better through good oral hygiene and regular dental visits, you also modify your AFib risk for the better.

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The common denominator

Inflammation is known as the unifying theory of disease — and the connection between heart and dental health is a perfect example of this.

That’s why in addition to upping your dental hygiene game to be safe, tamping down inflammation is also something to consider, for more reasons than one…

A study conducted at the Forsyth Institute, an affiliate of the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, found that fish oil helps resolve inflammation in people with periodontitis and is helpful in the treatment of gum disease.

Here are a few more tips that can reduce your AFib risks:

• Snacking on nuts – Eating nuts three times a week or more can lower your risk of AFib by 19 percent.
• Keep moving – Daily walking has been shown to reduce chances of developing the heart rhythm issue by 10 percent.
• Reduce alcohol consumption – Even moderate drinking is associated with the heart fibrosis and impairment in electrical signaling that cause AFib.

And if you’re already living with AFib, consider trying yoga, which could help you to reduce your heart rate and blood pressure and improve your quality of life.

Sources:

Gum infection may be a risk factor for heart arrhythmia, researchers find – ScienceDaily

Atrial fibrillation – CDC

The post Another reason to floss: Atrial fibrillation appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Such is the case with red wine.

We’ve known for a while now that a compound found in red grapes can make our heart stronger, make our skin younger and may even help prevent diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease.

Well, research over the past two years has shown that a glass of Cabernet or merlot may also be the best thing out there for preventing cavities and gum disease and is a tasty alternative to mouthwashes full of harmful chemicals.

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Polyphenols to the rescue

A group of Spanish researchers hypothesized that the polyphenols found in red wine and grapes, like resveratrol, could have a protective effect against oral bacteria, similar to the way they protect against “bad” bacteria in our gut.

Victoria Moreno-Arribas and her colleagues found that two specific polyphenols, caffeic acid and p-coumaric acid, were most effective at repelling harmful oral bacteria and preventing them from adhering to healthy tissue.

Not only that but the inhibitory effect of the polyphenols was enhanced when a dental probiotic was added.

Acids kill bacteria

An earlier study from Italy looked at how effective wine is at killing strains of oral streptococci, the bacteria responsible for the formation of dental plaque. If left unchecked, dental plaque leads to cavities and gum disease.

First, researchers at the University of Pavia removed the alcohol from both red and white wines, since alcohol is a common ingredient in commercial mouthwashes. They wanted to see if wine could do better at killing bacteria.

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They then isolated eight different strains of streptococcus and exposed them to the alcohol-free wine. They used both red and white wines.

At a normal body temperature of 98.6°F, the bacteria that were treated with wine stopped reproducing and began to die. After five hours, they were reduced by half.

And as it turns out, red wine was a slightly better streptococci killer. Upon closer investigation, it appeared that the organic acids in wine were killing the bacteria.

Red wine stains good for your teeth

It’s not just the antioxidant-powered polyphenols, including resveratrol, in red grapes that make red wine a superior bacteria fighter.

“The effectiveness of this type of product [red wine] depends on how long it stays on the tooth, known as its ‘substantivity,’ says Dr. Gary Glasband, a dentist in private practice in Long Beach, California. “Wine has a high substantivity, which you can see as it stains the teeth when you drink it.”

So, if you’re a red wine fan, take heart: those stains on your teeth are actually protecting them. But remember, if you drink, drinking responsibly matters most. If you don’t drink wine, red wine’s oral health benefits, while impressive, aren’t necessarily a reason to start.

Sources:

1. Skip the guilt: Red wine could protect your oral health — Medical News Today
2. Wine Helps Kill Bad Oral Bacteria, Study Finds — Wine Spectator
3. The Weird Way Red Wine Fights Cavities — Prevention
4. Inhibition of Oral Pathogens Adhesion to Human Gingival Fibroblasts by Wine Polyphenols Alone and in Combination with an Oral Probiotic — ACS Publications
5. Skip the guilt: Red wine could protect your oral health — Medical News Today
6. Wine may curb cavities — WebMD
7. Wine Helps Kill Bad Oral Bacteria, Study Finds — Wine Spectator

The post 3 ways red wine compounds promote a healthy mouth appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

It’s called mastic resin, and it’s been used to relieve a wide variety of ailments for over 3,000 years. People have put this resin in pills, powders, oils, tinctures and, perhaps most popularly, gum.

Gum is a great way to experience the benefits of this potent plant resin because many of its best benefits are for your oral health.

Studies show mastic gum can reduce the amount of cavity-causing bacteria in your mouth, lower plaque levels, reduce gum inflammation and neutralize mouth odor. That’s probably why chewing mastic gum has been a popular dental hygiene practice in Greece since the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries

But mastic’s benefits don’t stop in your mouth… far from it…

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Mastic gum is good for your gut, liver, bowels and beyond

Your stomach reaps some serious benefits from mastic too. In fact, people have been using mastic to relieve stomach ailments just as long as they’ve been using it for healthy teeth.

Studies show mastic relieves gut inflammation and goes to bat against bad gut bacteria like Helicobacter pylori, which is linked to ulcers and a higher cancer risk. A 2012 study found that mastic can kill other bacteria and fungi linked to ulcers too.

Mastic even helps inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn’s disease. A 2015 study found that people who used mastic gum for four weeks had less Crohn’s symptoms. They also had lower levels of inflammatory proteins in their blood.

Mastic has lowered cholesterol levels and blood sugar levels in certain studies too. Plus, it seems to have a positive impact on liver health. One study found it lowered levels of liver enzymes connected to liver damage. Another study found that mastic prevents liver damage in diabetic mice prone to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

But perhaps the most exciting uses for mastic lie in the future…

Clinical trials are currently underway in the U.S. to see if mastic can heal nerve damage. There have already been studies in animals and small studies in humans that show it may be able to repair damaged nerves. If this is the case, it could help people with a variety of neurological and neurodegenerative disorders, including multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s.

Mastic also has potential when it comes to preventing and treating cancer. A 2009 study found that it killed lung cancer cells in a laboratory setting and could keep lung tumors from growing and spreading. There’s evidence that it could have a similar effect on certain types of prostate cancer too.

Should you try the fantastic mastic?

Mastic sounds almost miraculous, doesn’t it? But before you get too excited, a lot of mastic’s benefits have only been studied in small human studies or animal studies, if they’ve been studied at all. So, the outcome of adding mastic to your healing regimen is far from certain. Still, it’s been used by people in Greece (and all over the world) for centuries. And the initial scientific research is promising. So, it may be worth trying.

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If you’re interested in testing mastic for yourself, mastic gum and supplements are available online. There are even mouthwashes and toothpastes that contain mastic. Those are obviously for people who want to reap mastic’s oral health benefits.

If you’re taking mastic to support gut and bowel health, you’ll probably want to get a mastic supplement. Powdered mastic supplements seem to be best for inflammatory bowel conditions, while mastic gum capsules are the go-to treatment for ulcers.

Sources:

1. Can This Ancient Greek Medicine Cure Humanity? — The New York Times
2. A pilot study on antiplaque effects of mastic chewing gum in the oral cavity — Journal of Periodontology
3. Recent Study Validates Cultural use of Mastic Gum for Oral Health — Clinical Education
4. Effects of Three Mastic Gums on the Number of Mutans Streptococci, Lactobacilli and PH of the Saliva — Journal of Dentistry of Tehran University of Medical Sciences
5. What Is Mastic Gum and How Is It Used? — Healthline
6. Chios mastic gum modulates serum biochemical parameters in a human population — Journal of Ethnopharmacology
7. Hypolipidemic, Hepatoprotective and Anti-inflammatory Role of Chios Mastic gum in Streptozotocin-induced Diabetic Mice with Fatty Liver Disease — Hellenic Journal of Atherosclerosis
8. Top 5 Reasons You’ll Love Mastic — American College of Healthcare Sciences
9. Anti-inflammatory activity of Chios mastic gum is associated with inhibition of TNF-alpha induced oxidative stress — Nutrition Journal
10. A transcriptomic computational analysis of mastic oil-treated Lewis lung carcinomas reveals molecular mechanisms targeting tumor cell growth and survival — BMC Medical Genomics 

The post The ancient Greek gum that’s good for your teeth, liver and more appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

For instance, periodontal (or gum) disease can lead to inflammation and degeneration in the brain.

It can trigger inflammatory bowel diseases like ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.

It can increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

It can make you more likely to contract severe COVID-19 or die from the illness.

And it’s even been linked to rheumatoid arthritis, lung infections, obesity, prostate inflammation and erectile dysfunction.

Gum disease also can influence cardiovascular health. Studies have linked gum disease to heart disease. And research shows people with periodontitis, a severe gum infection, are more likely to have high blood pressure.

Now, there’s new research that expands the list of ways gum disease may influence the heart….

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Heart failure and your gums

A team of U.S.-based researchers analyzed long-term data from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study that included 7,514 people who averaged 63 years of age.

Periodontal disease was found in 59 percent of the participants, while 23 percent had healthy gums. Another 18 percent were in edentulism, meaning they no longer had their natural teeth.

While there have been many studies that found links between periodontal status and coronary artery disease, stroke or diabetes, few have focused on heart failure.

Among the participants, those with periodontal disease were much more likely to experience heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) over an estimated 13 years of follow-up. In this type of heart failure, the left ventricle isn’t pumping blood to the body as well as it should.

There was also a nonsignificant trend of excess heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) in those with periodontal disease. In HFpEF, ejection fraction may be within a normal range, but often the heart muscle has thickened or stiffened to the point where the ventricle holds a smaller amount of blood than usual — meaning there’s not enough blood being pumped to meet the body’s needs.

But the people whose gum health had deteriorated to the point of edentulism had roughly double the risk of both HFrEF and HFpEF.

All of these results remained significant even after adjusting for sociodemographic, behavioral and heart failure risk biomarkers, as well as other pre-existing health conditions and coronary heart disease.

Gum disease is triggered by an inflammatory response to bacteria under the gums. Chronic systemic inflammation is also believed to be directly related to heart failure’s pathogenesis.

Some scientists believe the link between the two could be because periodontitis influences the amount of inflammation in the membrane lining the inside of the heart and blood vessels.

Previous research suggests acute heart failure patients could benefit from intravenous corticosteroids if they have elevated levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), a biomarker of systemic inflammation.

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It takes more than brushing

The investigators say these findings support the need for more research exploring the potential for using anti-infective periodontal therapies to minimize heart failure burden.

While they work on that, there are a few things you can do…

If you’re a smoker or have diabetes, you’re at increased risk for periodontal disease. That means quitting the habit and staying on top of diabetes management.

And of course, the best defense against gum disease is a good offense. To start with, make sure your oral hygiene is impeccable. To avoid heart failure, it’s worth the time and effort.

But when it comes to the health of your mouth, good oral hygiene is really only half the battle. Like your gut, your mouth has its own microbiome. And just skipping brushing for one day has been shown to promote changes in the oral microbiome that kick off periodontitis.

As for supplements that might help, one study suggests that melatonin may help reduce gum tissue inflammation. Another links low levels of vitamin D3 to periodontitis, which is not surprising for several reasons…

• Of all the vitamins, it’s probably the strongest at quelling inflammation
• A study published in the Frontiers of Immunology confirmed that vitamin D3 could balance people’s immune systems and help strengthen defenses against infections. The same could not be said for vitamin D2.

And my colleague, Margaret Cantwell, recommends these four supplements specifically that fight aging and gum disease.

If you’re already dealing with HFpEF, find out why you should add olive oil to your diet, pronto, here.

Sources:

People With Gum Disease Are More Prone to Heart Failure — MedPage Today

Periodontal Status, C-Reactive Protein, NT-proBNP, and Incident Heart Failure: The ARIC Study — JACC: Heart Failure

Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction (Systolic Heart Failure) — MyHealth.Alberta.ca

Ejection Fraction Heart Failure Measurement — American Heart Association

The post The strong link between gum disease and heart failure appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Sounds strange, I know. But poor oral health is intimately linked to disease in the rest of your body.

For example, the immune cells that are generated to fight gum disease often turn up in your heart valves and heart muscle. They go a little crazy and attack your heart with more force than is necessary at the least sign of an infection. This destroys heart tissue and leads to chronic heart disease.

Researchers have continued looking for the effects of gum disease on other bodily systems.

Most recently, they’ve discovered that your lungs are another target for mouth bacteria.

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Does one type of bacteria cause both lung and mouth infections?

“We believe that inflammatory bacteria in the mouth create pockets between the gum and tooth, break down the lining and spread to the heart and lungs,” said Dr. Randi Bertelsen of the University of Bergen in Norway. 

For the past two decades, hundreds of participants in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) have been monitored for respiratory health. Gum samples were taken from these same people about ten years ago.

Now, Dr. Bertelsen is using this data to try and prove a causal relationship between oral health and lung health. He’s most interested in a specific type of bacteria, known as Gram-negative bacteria, named after the Danish microbiologist who discovered it.

“Most chronic lung diseases are characterized by inflammation, with lots of mucus, which makes it hard to breathe,” Dr. Bertelsen states. “This inflammation is caused by Gram-negative bacteria.”

Gum samples from people with periodontitis (gum disease) show a compound knows as lipid A that could be behind the infection caused by Gram-negative bacteria.

This is one avenue of exploration being pursued. The other is a kind of “chicken and egg” scenario.

Which comes first: Gum disease or lung disease?

Patients with severe lung disease, like COPD, often have severe gum disease as well. The only thing that’s not clear is which came first.

Dr. Bertelsen is working to untangle this conundrum. His BRuSH project will enroll young patients with mild to moderate gum disease. Dentists will treat away bacteria from their mouth – the traditional treatment for periodontitis. Saliva and blood samples will be taken before and after the procedure.

“We want to see if removing the bacteria in a relatively young population before they have any respiratory diseases, actually improves lung function,” says Dr. Bertelsen.

If removing the oral bacteria does in fact lead to better lung health, it would show the crucial importance of brushing, flossing, and regular dental visits to prevent future lung disease.

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Don’t wait: Improve your oral health habits now!

Let’s not forget that respiratory viruses can cause lung diseases. We’ve had our fair share of that lately. Covid-19 and pneumonia are two common reasons you want to keep your lungs as healthy as possible.

You don’t need to wait for the results of this study to start taking better care of your mouth right now. You’ll be preserving your teeth, saving your heart, and more than likely, preventing serious lung disease down the line.

Naturally, brushing and flossing after you eat is key to removing food particles that can nourish infection-causing bacteria.

But as with most things health-related, nutrition and food choices can play a big part.

Eating a balanced, whole-food diet is as good for your teeth as it is for the rest of you. And if you’d like some extra insurance, you can take one of these four supplements that fight gum disease.

And if you’re a red wine drinker, you should know that it contains compounds that promote a healthy mouth!

Sources:

How flossing and brushing may be good for your lungs — Horizon: the EU Research & Innovation Magazine

Tooth loss associated with higher risk of heart disease — Eureka Alert

Linkages between oral commensal bacteria and atherosclerotic plaques in coronary artery disease patients — National Library of Medicine / Biofilms and Microbiomes

The post Gum disease and lung infections: A new connection appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

But for some reason, conventional medicine still holds firm that the body is capable of balancing pH on its own. A conventional doctor may discount the importance of pH balance and its connection to health and the disease process.

But your dentist is one health provider who sees the results of imbalanced pH levels in their patients regularly.

They see how the foods people eat change their pH levels, and they see how these effects allow bacteria to thrive in your mouth, causing tooth decay and gum disease.

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We seem to think that the mouth is an independent system of its own — and that it has no real connection to the rest of the body.

Nothing could be further from the truth, and research has been uncovering more and more of this fact over the past several years.

If an imbalance in pH can destroy your mouth, the micro-environment that is the gateway to the rest of your body, why is it hard to believe that pH gone awry can wreak havoc on the rest of your body?

What is pH and why does it matter?

Your body’s pH balance, also referred to as its acid-base balance, is the level of acids and bases in your blood at which your body functions best.

In a healthy body, the lungs and kidneys maintain a healthy acid-base balance. A normal blood pH level is 7.35 to 7.45 on a scale of 0 to 14, where 0 is the most acidic and 14 is the most basic. This value can vary slightly in either direction.

Most disease-causing bacteria thrive in a highly acidic environment. For this reason, it’s important to keep your blood pH in balance (more about how to do that in a bit).

What dentists know

Dentists know that a highly acidic mouth pH can cause tooth decay and gum disease.

Here’s how it works:

Every time you eat or drink anything other than water (which has a neutral pH), the pH level in your mouth drops (becomes more acidic). This causes minerals in your tooth enamel to seep out as your body tries to re-establish a balanced pH. 

When minerals in your teeth are depleted, you’re vulnerable to cavity-causing bacteria. And, to make matters worse, this mineral loss also occurs in the bones surrounding your teeth, starting the slide toward periodontal disease.

Doesn’t it make sense, then, that this same process is occurring in your bones, setting you up for osteoporosis?

In fact, most bacteria that cause disease and illness thrive in an overly acidic environment. This causes the body to “borrow” vital minerals from organs, bones and tissues to try and neutralize the acid.

Some of the symptoms of this attempt by your body to bring things back into balance include:

• Yeast infections
• Constipation
• Chronic fatigue
• Free radical damage can lead to cell mutations
• Weight gain
• Bladder and kidney damage
• Diabetes
• Joint pain

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How to keep an alkaline pH and promote health

As with most health issues, your diet is your first line of defense.

Be aware, though, that acidic foods, like citrus fruits, are not the same thing as foods that swing your pH balance toward the acidic end of the scale. For example, lemons are very acidic, but when digested are very alkaline.

Similarly, if you were to test the pH of meat, it would appear alkaline. But when digested, it leaves a highly acidic residue in the body.

Foods that help maintain a healthy pH balance include:

• Green and leafy vegetables
• Asparagus, peas, cabbage, turnips, carrots, kale, celery and potatoes
• Lemons, limes, avocados and tomatoes
• Nuts, seeds, and legumes, including almonds, pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, sesame seeds and lentils
• Drink water and herbal teas to quench your thirst

Here is another extensive list of healthy alkaline food choices.

You may want to consider buying an alkaline test kit and testing your pH level once or twice a week to ensure you remain on track.

If the pH in your urine is below 6.5 and in your saliva below 7.0, it means your body is struggling too much to keep up its required 7.2 pH.

Sources:

The key to maintaining proper pH balance in your mouth — Loma Linda University Health

Bodily pH – how it is involved in the disease process, and how to modify it — Dental Wellness Center

Understanding pH Balance in the Mouth — Jefferson Dental and Orthodontics

The importance of pH balance — Vincera Institute

The post What dentists get but doctors don’t about pH balance appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

But not only is the mouth a gateway for viral invaders, maintaining good oral health can go a long way in helping your body fend them off.

However, it hasn’t been clear exactly how keeping your mouth healthy helped increase protection against viral infection — until now…

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Defend against gum disease, defend against viruses

Researchers have uncovered how the proteins produced by oral epithelial cells protect humans against the growth of viruses that enter the body through the mouth. In the process, they also discovered the same oral bacteria that cause periodontal disease can suppress the release of these proteins, leaving us increasingly vulnerable to infection.

According to the research, production and effectiveness of these protective proteins, known as interferon lambdas, can be reduced by the oral bacterium Porphyromonas gingivalis, which causes periodontal (gum) disease.

“Our studies identified certain pathogenic bacterial species, P. gingivalis,which cause periodontal disease, can completely suppress interferon production and severely enhance susceptibility to viral infection,” says Juhi Bagaitkar, assistant professor in the University of Louisville Department of Oral Immunology and Infectious Disease. “These resident oral plaque bacteria play a key role in regulating antiviral responses.”

Viruses that infect the lungs and gastrointestinal tract often enter the body through the mouth. Some of these viruses include the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), herpes simplex, human papillomavirus (HPV) and SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

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In addition to causing gum disease, P. gingivalis has been linked to several diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, kidney disease and rheumatoid arthritis. And studies have shown that periodontitis can lead to immune suppression, increasing susceptibility to viruses like HIV, herpes simplex and HPV.

The researchers plan to continue to improve their understanding of how interferon lambdas protect people from viruses, as well as how P. gingivalis compromises that protection. Through these efforts, they hope to come up with clinical approaches to support the protection provided by the interferon proteins.

How to fight off P. gingivalis and boost your oral microbiome

As we’ve noted in earlier issues, keeping good oral health comes down to following your dentist’s advice. Brush your teeth at least twice a day, floss once a day and visit the dentist twice a year for a cleaning.

If you want to reinforce your protection against P. gingivalis, there are some additional actions you can take:

• Using a therapeutic oral rinse can help reduce the amount of plaque and bacteria in your mouth. And as a bonus, studies have linked oral rinses to the deactivation of SARS-CoV-2.
• Eating fewer processed and high-sugar foods will help discourage the formation of harmful oral bacteria that feed on these foods.
• Taking a probiotic specifically formulated for the oral microbiome can help ramp up your defense against P. gingivalis and other harmful bacteria. Look for one containing BLIS K12 (Streptococcus salivarius), a strain that can help protect against inflammation and strengthen the immune system.
• Beetroot juice can alter the oral microbiome for better in a little as 10 days, according to research from the University of Exeter.

Sources:

UofL researchers reveal how oral bacteria suppress protection against viral growth — University of Louisville School of Dentistry

How Your Oral Health Affects Your Immune System — Dodds Dental

The post The link between oral health and viral defense appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

But when you have a toothache, you go to the dentist.

We seem to think that the mouth is an independent system of its own — and that it has no real connection to the rest of the body.

Nothing could be further from the truth, and research has been uncovering more and more of this fact over the past several years.

For example, bleeding gums may signal undiagnosed hypertension.

Bacteria can actually travel from your mouth to your brain and may contribute to the development of Alzheimer’s disease.

And, believe it or not, there’s a link between gum disease and severe outcomes from COVID-19!

Now, a large-scale study has demonstrated just how deep the connection between your oral health and your general health really is.

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Gum disease dramatically increases risks for other illnesses

A University of Birmingham study has shown that persons with a medically documented history of periodontal (gum) disease are far more likely to develop mental health issues, cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.

In a first-of-its-kind study, researchers examined the medical records of 64,379 patients whose doctors had recorded a history of periodontal disease.

Of these, 60,995 had gingivitis and 3,384 had periodontitis (the condition that occurs if gum disease is left untreated and can lead to tooth loss). 

These records were compared to those of 251,161 patients who had no record of periodontal disease.

The researchers examined the data to compare the health of patients with and without periodontal disease over a period of three years.

Those diagnosed with gum disease were found more likely to develop cardiovascular, metabolic and autoimmune diseases, as well as mental health disorders.

Specifically, the research team discovered that for those subjects with a medical history of periodontal disease, the increased risk of developing:

• Anxiety or depression was 37 percent.
• Autoimmune disease was increased by 33 percent
• Type 2 diabetes rose to 26 percent
• Cardiovascular disease was 18 percent greater

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What does this mean for you?

The connection between oral health and bodily health and disease is more than just an interesting research finding. The researchers see important implications for how we take care of ourselves in the real world.

“An important implication of our findings is the need for effective communication between dental and other healthcare professionals to ensure patients obtain an effective treatment plan targeting both oral and wider health to improve their existing overall health and reduce the risk of future illness,” says Professor Krish Nirantharakumar of the University of Birmingham.

In other words, it wouldn’t be a bad idea if your dentist and your medical doctor started talking to each other more.

Professor Nirantharakumar foresees a world in which dentists, who are normally the first to spot gum disease, communicate regularly with doctors.

This will allow a doctor to monitor a patient’s overall health in light of their oral health, and to make recommendations that will help prevent more serious illnesses from developing.

Sources:

Gum disease increases risk of other illness such as mental health and heart conditions, study finds — Eureka Alert

Burden of chronic diseases associated with periodontal diseases: a retrospective cohort study using UK primary care data — BMJOPEN.com

The post Health risks that could decrease if dentists talked to doctors appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

However, what you may not know is that the dangers of gum disease go far beyond your heart and can actually put you at risk of kidney disease, diabetes, and even cancer. It can even increase your chances of ending up on a ventilator or dying due to COVID-19.

And now, there’s even more bad news if you’ve been putting off that trip to the dentist, especially if you’re already experiencing tooth loss.

According to a brand new meta-analysis of 14 separate scientific studies, once you start losing teeth, dementia could be just down the road.

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The risk increases every time a tooth is lost

Researchers from New York University’s Rory Meyers College of Nursing set out to analyze the growing body of evidence linking oral health to brain health.

Included in this analysis were 14 studies involving more than 34,000 adults and 4,689 cases of people with reduced cognitive function.

And the results were clear!

With tooth loss, your risk of developing cognitive impairment goes up almost one and a half times higher — and your risk for dementia goes up 1.28 times higher.

Who knew your teeth were so crucial to your brain?

And, it gets worse…

Because the results were so frightening, the researchers decided to conduct a second analysis. This time, they used a subset of eight studies to find out whether or not the number of teeth you lose makes a difference in your risk of cognitive decline.

And the answer was YES.

Their study showed that for each additional tooth you lose, your risk of cognitive impairment goes up by 1.4 percent and your risk of dementia increases by 1.1 percent.

The protection provided by dentures

However, there is some good news if you’re already living with tooth loss…

The use of dentures may protect against that tooth-related risk for cognitive decline.

In fact, the study showed that adults who were missing teeth were more likely to suffer from cognitive impairment if they didn’t have dentures (23.8%) compared to those with dentures (16.9%).

And once the complete analysis was in, the researchers say that the connection between tooth loss and cognitive issues was “not significant” when participants had dentures.

So, if you’ve lost teeth, dentures are your friend, keeping your brain and cognition at its best.

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Better oral health for better brain health

What can you do to prevent gum disease and tooth loss, which may contribute to dementia in the future?

1. Change your diet – Limit the amount of refined sugars and carbohydrates in your diet that can feed the bacteria that lead to gum disease.
2. Try essential oils – Add a drop or two of a certified organic essential oil, like clove or tea tree, to your toothpaste when you brush to reduce inflammation and combat harmful bacteria. Be sure to spit it out.
3. Take gum-healthy supplements – According to registered dental hygienist, Bobbie DelSasso, RDH, BS, Loma Linda University researchers found that certain supplements alone were so powerful at combating the effects of periodontal disease that the study participants didn’t require any additional dental treatment. The supplements included grape seed extract, CoQ10, echinacea and folic acid.

And of course, always practice good oral hygiene, including brushing and flossing at least twice a day.

One more tip: According to my dental hygienist, the key is to floss first and then brush to sweep away the buildup of materials that can feed bad bacteria between your teeth.

Sources:

People who start losing their teeth more likely to develop dementia – Study Finds

People who start losing their teeth are more likely to develop DEMENTIA – but dentures may protect against cognitive decline, study finds – Daily Mail

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