Validating... 
As if you needed any more reason to pick up that toothbrush…
According to a new study from the University of Granada, the link between chronic gum disease and cardiovascular disease is more extensive than we once thought.
Until now, the relationship between the plaque on your teeth and the plaque in your arteries has been well documented. But recent research has actually demonstrated that the extent of gum disease may have a direct impact on the severity of heart attacks.
In other words, the worse off your teeth and gums are, the bigger the heart attack!
So not only does bad dental hygiene have a direct impact on your risk factor for heart attacks, the level of poor hygiene can determine how massive (and potentially fatal) that incident may be.
This new research examined 112 patients who had an acute myocardial infarction (or serious heart attack). The patients experienced regular cardiological and dental checkups, and distinct biological markers in bacteria were noted as having a measurable effect on the death of cells in the heart muscle.
And It Gets Worse …
According to a paper published last week in Geriatrics & Gerontology International, a link between Alzheimer’s and inflammation from gum disease is also being investigated.
That study suggests chronic inflammation of the gums aggravates neural inflammation and neural cell death in the brain. This correlation is triggered by the presence of bacteria in the mouth – a pro-inflammatory indicator that has been linked to a significant role in the aggravation of Alzheimer’s disease.
These two studies offer further proof of the distinct (and often overlooked) relationship between every aspect of our health.
Everything is Connected!
What’s startling, however, is that – for the most part – modern medicine continues to ignore the root causes of systemic and chronic disease … instead focusing on diagnosing and treating symptoms rather than addressing these complex relationships.
I’ve long believed that to address the root causes of chronic disease, doctors simply MUST look deeper at the underlying biological markers that form these relationships.
Functional (or integrative) medicine has been sounding this alarm for the past 20 years, but only recently has the “traditional” medical community begun to pay attention.
New developments in evaluating and identifying these relationships are on the horizon.
In fact, companies on the cutting edge of diagnostic research may hold the answers to a more functional approach to chronic conditions like heart disease and Alzheimer’s.
In the meantime, maybe it’s best to follow your mother’s advice …
Brush three times a day, and only floss the teeth you want to keep!
Not only will your teeth thank you – your heart and mind will too.
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