Researchers from Sydney Dental Hospital and Royal North Shore Hospital ( Australia ) and University of Oslo ( Norway ) collaborated in the PERICAR clinical trial, providing strong evidence linking periodontal disease to an increased risk of developing blood clots, which could lead to the onset of myocardial infarction and stroke.

In recent years, many studies throughout the world have linked periodontal disease to increased cardiovascular risk, although the reasons for this link have not been fully explained, nor has it been proven that the link is a direct causal one.
One explanation is that inflammation and infection have also been related to increased atherosclerosis and cardiovascular risk.

Periodontal disease is the most common chronic infection in humans, and symptoms include bleeding, swollen or receding gums, and bad breath. In severe cases, the teeth become loose and may eventually fall out.

Individual participants who were involved in the trial had blood tests before and after treatment of periodontal disease that was so severe that all their teeth had to be extracted.
The blood tests were for blood-clot risk factors and signs of inflammation.

The average level of factors fell when the periodontal infection was eradicated, suggesting that the risk of myocardial infarction and clots in the future had reduced.
This also indicates that inflammation in the mouth has a measurable effect in the bloodstream, and therefore the rest of the body.

Although these results are exciting they do not yet provide proof of a direct link and more research is needed.

This study suggests that improving periodontal health could significantly reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Source: International & American Association for Dental Research, 2006


XagenaMedicine2006