1) 56 percent of the patients surveyed who had pre-existing rheumatoid arthritis also had inflamed gums, a condition referred to as periodontitis. Furthermore, these people also possessed more plaque, looser teeth, and fewer teeth than their arthritis-free counterparts.
2) Non-smokers who were afflicted with moderate to severe periodontitis are potentially more vulnerable to acquiring rheumatoid arthritis.
The article then includes a glimpse of hope. A regulated anti-TNF therapy has proven to be an effective strategy for treating the oral disease in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, as 80% of the patients analyzed yielded positive results. I am curious how an anti-IL-1 therapy would fare, as a few of the articles we read in class deemed that to be more beneficial in slowing the progression of arthritis overall.
Also a quick side note in case you were wondering what this periodontitis is all about. You can think of it as an aggravated or a later stage of gingivitis. While gingivitis is generally defined as inflammation of gum caused by plaque, periodontitis involves inflammation of gum, alveolar bone, ligaments, and other structures near the tooth.
My oral hygienist consistently reminds me of a connection that has been discovered between poor gum health and an increased risk of heart disease. Add to that this newfound information concerning the palliative effect of healthy mouth care on arthritis, and I suppose I have one more reason to start flossing regularly!
Source:
Durning, Marijke. "Interesting Connection: Teeth & Arthritis."
It didn't let me post the link: http://www.blisstree.com/articles/interesting-connection-teeth-arthritis/
ReplyDeleteI'm curious if using mouthwash has the same beneficial results as flossing.?
ReplyDeleteInteresting topic!
ReplyDeleteI did some further reading and found...there are evidence showed and linked untreated gum disease to a host of systemic diseases and conditions, including RA, heart disease, stroke, diabetes and pre-term birth. An estimated 80 percent of American adults currently have gum disease (according to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research). Untreated periodontal infection can stress the whole body system because toxins are thrown into the blood stream.
I've always heard the connection between flossing and heart disease, but never thought that it was linked to many different type of diseases! Quite interesting...
Great post!
ReplyDeleteAnother interesting fact about the connection between gingivitis and RA is that porphyromonas gingivalis, a microorganism implicated in causing gingivitis, expresses an enzyme called peptidyl arginine deiminase (PAD) that modifies arginine residues to citrulline. This is interesting because ~80% of people that develop RA have autoantibodies to citrullinated proteins. These autoantibodies are thought to participate in disease pathogenesis. Interestingly these autoantibodies can be present years before clinical onset of RA.
This and other data suggest that RA may begin outside of the joints and result from genetic factors that cause autoimmunity to occur from infection by certain pathogens.
Very interesting topic- We see dental disease in animals all the time. We urge pet owners to keep up with regular dental cleanings to prevent heart disease and infection. I never thought about linking dental disease to arthritis.
ReplyDeleteInteresting comments!
ReplyDeleteRegarding the mouthwash question, it is generally accepted that mouthwash is not a substitute for either brushing or flossing - you can think of it as a supplement. Its benefits are limited and typically represent better breath (temporarily), while rinses containing flouride can also fight plaque build-up. Flossing, on the other hand, is vital in cleansing your mouth of plaque and other particles jammed between teeth. Oh, and a bonus tip: if you want more longer-lasting fresh breath, try scraping the back of your tongue with your toothbrush. Tried and tested!