The Correlation between Oral Health, Heart Disease, and Diabetes

The Correlation between Oral Health, Heart Disease, and Diabetes.

Two more recent studies further reinforce the link between oral health and systemic health. The first study, Cochrane Database of Systemic Reviews (May 2010)  found that treating Type 2 diabetes patients for periodontal disease may lower their blood sugar levels. Researchers believe that when bacteria infect the mouth and cause inflammation, a chemical change occurs that affects the amount of insulin produced by the body, thus making it hard for diabetic patients to regulate their blood sugar levels. The researchers concluded that an oral health assessment should be recommended as part of routine diabetes management.

The other study, published in British Medical Journal in May 2010, found that people who brush their teeth two or more times a day have a lower risk of heart disease than those with poor oral hygiene.  The results come from the Scottish Health Survey, which included more than 11,000 adults.  The researchers found those individuals that reported less frequent brushing had 70% higher risk for heart disease than those that brushed their teeth twice a day.

This research reinforces the importance of the PREVENTATIVE model of dentistry so get brushing and don’t forget the floss.