The older we get and the farther we get into retirement, the more we worry about illnesses such as heart disease, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, osteoporosis, and other diseases. If we still have our own teeth, and today more of us have them than ever, we should also worry about gum disease. Researchers have found links between gum disease and each of the other diseases above.

Estimates on the number of adults who have periodontal disease range from 1 in 10 to 50% or more, so we’re not certain how many suffer from the condition. It often involves redness, soreness, swelling, inflammation, and bleeding from the gums. More severe cases can infect the bones and cause tooth loss. Periodontal disease is the accumulation of bacteria called plaque in the gums. The bacteria release toxins that circulate through the entire body. No research has yet shown a cause-and-effect pattern, but the relationship is clearly present.

A study reported in the International Journal of Cardiology compared a group of patients who had a recent heart attack with a control group and found much worse oral health in the heart attack group. Results of a study in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology indicated a direct relationship between gum disease and atherosclerosis, which is hardening and thickening of the walls of the arteries. The more severe the case of gum disease, the harder and thicker the arterial walls. A major cardiac journal and a major periodontal journal simultaneously published a consensus paper, describing the inflammation link between the two diseases and asking both types of doctors to view the body as a whole, rather than as a group of unrelated parts.

A professional periodontist can perform deep cleaning and removal of bacteria from the gums and teeth. The New England Journal of Medicine reported that patients in an intensive gum disease treatment program not only had a healthier mouth, but also showed improved functioning of the blood vessels. In addition to regular dental checkups and cleaning, some foods might help prevent periodontal disease and inflammation.

Results published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that men who ate at least four servings of whole grains a day reduced their risk of periodontal disease by 23%. The body digests whole grains more slowly than it digests more refined grains. The slower digestion reduces spikes in blood sugar and inhibits the production of inflammatory proteins, thereby reducing inflammation.

Raisins, although sweet and sticky, contain antioxidants that attack certain bacteria that can cause inflammation and gum disease.

A Japanese study showed that men who drank a single cup of green tea each day significantly lowered their risk of contracting gum disease, and the more tea they drank, the lower was the risk of gum disease. The antioxidants in green tea were credited with interfering with the body’s inflammatory response to the disease-causing bacteria.

Even in retirement, we’re never too old to learn something new about how our bodies function. The link between gum disease and heart disease seems unlikely, but studies continue to reinforce the relationship. We owe it to our hearts to take care of our gums.

Copyright 2010, Linda Manley