Health
Mouths: The Front Line Against Heart Disease
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Apr 5, 2010, 00:24

Are Mouths: The Front Line Against Heart Disease?


(NewsUSA) - Aside from having great breath and a brilliant smile, there is a another reason to take extra special care of your pearly whites, and it comes in the form of heart disease.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 27 percent of all U.S. deaths are a result of heart disease, and in 2009, heart disease is projected to cost more than $304.6 billion, including health care services, medications, and lost productivity. Yet, saving yourself from a heart attack may be as simple as proper oral care.

Researchers have found that people with severe chronic gum disease, or periodontitis, are almost twice as likely to suffer from coronary artery disease as those without periodontal disease. A 1998 study led by Dr. Mark Herzberg and Dr. Maurice Meyer at the University of Minnesota was the first to show that bacteria from the mouth can induce clotting, which is the pivotal event in most heart attacks and strokes.

"Severe periodontal disease is the equivalent to a wound of about eight square inches," said Dr. Herzberg. "Imagine a wound that size on your skin, always ulcerated and exposed to a whole variety of bacteria."

The human mouth teems with bacteria. When the bad types of bacteria outnumber healthy microbes, they cause bad breath and gum disease, or puffy, cracked or bleeding gums. These bad bacteria enter the wounds and evenually make their way into the blood stream. "I think we're showing a potential for these organisms to contribute to clotting events that may proceed to a heart attack," said Dr. Herzberg.

However, Americans suffering from bad breath do not need to check themselves into the hospital. According to research conducted at the University of Connecticut, improving oral health can benefit blood vessels within six months. And studies are showing that the answer to optimal oral health might be just what nature intended.

Dr. Jeffrey Hillman, who has spent more than 30 years researching oral health, has identified three unique probiotic strains that are natural residents in healthy mouths. This special blend of probiotics, patented as ProBiora3, forms colonies of beneficial bacteria on the teeth and gums, where they crowd out harmful bacteria.

The ProBiora3 probiotic technology has been integrated into an easy delivery system as a probiotic mint in a product called EvoraPlus. For more information, visit www.evoraplus.com.

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