MIAMI, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire)— Nearly 50 percent of adults age 30 and over have some form of gum disease. For people over 65, that number jumps to over 70 percent. Several studies have shown dental problems now can lead to heart problems later. But a first-of-its-kind toothpaste is helping patients to reduce their heart attack and stroke risk. Heart health
Brushing, flossing, rinsing, and repeat. You do everything you can to take care of those pearly whites, but …
“I’d go to the dentist and there would be lots of complaints about plaque buildup,” recalled patient Denelle Marlowe.
Studies show there is a correlation between plaque buildup and bacteria in our mouth to cardiovascular disease and stroke. But now this toothpaste is looking to help people prevent heart disease.
“PlaqueHD is a toothpaste to replace your common toothpaste,” described Lawrence Hier, DDS, MS, orthodontist and Inventor of PlaqueHD.
It works by highlighting in green the plaque on your teeth that you miss during brushing. In clinical trials PlaqueHD removed two to four times the amount of plaque on tooth surfaces than conventional toothpaste. By removing the plaque …
“What it also does is it reduces a very specific protein in the blood called CRP, ”Dr.Hier explained.
CRP stands for c-reactive protein. It is a sensitive indicator of future risk for heart disease and stroke. Two clinical trials were performed with PlaqueHD.
“The reductions in both trials were similar. They ranged between 30 to 50 percent reductions in the c-reactive protein levels,” explained Charles Hennekens, MD, Dr.PH, of Florida Atlantic University Schmidt College of Medicine.
“We have a lot of heart disease in my family, so that’s always been in the forefront of my mind,” shared Marlowe.
And now when she goes to the dentist …
“I actually had really great reviews!” Marlowe expressed.
Cleaner teeth, a healthier heart, and peace of mind.
The trials were conducted by Florida Atlantic University Schmidt College of Medicine in collaboration with the University of Wisconsin College of Medicine. The team is looking to conduct another trial to see if PlaqueHD decreases the progression of atherosclerosis by using CT scans of the coronary arteries to measure.
Contributors to this news report include: Cyndy McGrath, Executive Producer; Milvionne Chery, Field Producer; Judy Reich, Videographer; Roque Correa, Editor.
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Sources:
https://www.heart.org/en/news/2018/11/07/bad-tooth-brushing-habits-tied-to-higher-heart-risk
https://www.heart.org/en/news/2018/11/07/bad-tooth-brushing-habits-tied-to-higher-heart-risk
MEDICAL BREAKTHROUGHS
RESEARCH SUMMARY
TOPIC: AVOID GREEN AND STAY CLEAN: HEART HEALTH IN A TUBE
REPORT: MB #4878
BACKGROUND: Coronary artery disease, otherwise known as CAD, is the most common type of heart disease in the United States. It is sometimes called coronary heart disease or ischemic heart disease. CAD is caused by plaque buildup in the walls of the arteries that supply blood to the heart, called coronary arteries, and other parts of the body. Plaque is made up of deposits of cholesterol and other substances in the artery. Plaque buildup causes the inside of the arteries to narrow over time, which can partially or totally block the blood flow, a process called atherosclerosis.
(Source: https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/coronary_ad.htm)
SYMPTOMS AND RISKS OF CAD: Angina, or chest pain and discomfort, is the most common symptom of Coronary Artery Disease otherwise known as CAD. Angina can happen when too much plaque builds up inside arteries, causing them to narrow and narrowed arteries can cause chest pain because they can block blood flow to your heart muscle and the rest of your body.
For many people, the first clue that they have CAD is a heart attack. Symptoms can include but are not limited to chest pain or discomfort (angina), weakness, light-headedness, nausea, or a cold sweat, pain or discomfort in the arms or shoulder, or shortness of breath. Over time, CAD can weaken the heart muscle could and lead to heart failure. Being overweight, physical inactivity, unhealthy eating, and smoking tobacco are risk factors for CAD. A family history of heart disease also increases your risk for CAD, especially if you have a family history of having heart disease at an early age (50 or younger). If you have CAD, health care professionals may suggest lifestyle changes, such as eating a healthier (lower sodium, lower fat) diet, increasing physical activity, reaching a healthy weight, and quitting smoking to help lower your risk for heart attack or worsening heart disease. Medicines to treat risk factors for CAD, such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or an irregular heartbeat and surgical procedures to help restore blood flow to the heart may also be recommend by healthcare professionals.
(Source: https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/coronary_ad.htm)
NEW STUDY LINKS PLAQUE AND HEART DISEASE:
To explore the connections between oral and heart health, Dr. Hasturk and her colleagues at Harvard Medical School used rabbits that were fed cholesterol-rich diets as a model to mimic human heart disease. Some of the rabbits were then infected with bacteria known to cause periodontal disease. Those rabbits developed atherosclerotic plaques that were less stable, and therefore more likely to cause a heart attack, and had higher blood levels of inflammation than the rabbits that had not been exposed to the gum disease bacteria. The researchers then treated the rabbits with an oral topical liquid that contained resolvins, which are molecules derived from omega-3 fatty acids believed to help quell inflammation. The treatment not only prevented periodontal disease in the infected rabbits, but also lowered inflammation and atherosclerosis. The findings highlight the potential connection between the two conditions. A study testing a related compound called lipoxin in people with gum disease is currently under way. To date, there’s no proof that treating gum disease will prevent cardiovascular disease or its complications, but the connection is compelling enough that dentists, and many doctors, say it’s yet another reason to be vigilant about preventing gum disease in the first place.
(Source: https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/gum-disease-and-heart-disease-the-common-thread)
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GISELE GALOUSTIAN
(561) 297-2676
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