For decades, researchers have suggested a link between oral health and inflammatory diseases affecting the entire body — in particular, heart attacks and strokes.
Inflammation is intimately involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and is accurately measured by high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), a sensitive marker for future risks of heart attacks and strokes.
In a new study, researchers found Plaque HD®, a plaque identifying toothpaste, could strongly reduce hs-CRP.
The research was conducted by a team from Florida Atlantic University and elsewhere.
In this study, people were given the same brushing protocol and received a 30-day supply of toothpaste containing either Plaque HD® or an identical non-plaque identifying placebo toothpaste.
Plaque HD® is the first toothpaste that identifies plaque so that it can be removed with directed brushing.
In addition, the product’s proprietary formulation contains unique combinations and concentrations of cleaning agents that weaken the core of the plaque structure to help the subject visualize and more effectively remove the plaque.
The team found the current findings are similar to those from their previous research.
They say that whether this plaque-identifying toothpaste decreases heart attacks or strokes requires a large-scale randomized trial of sufficient size and duration.
These results provide a stronger rationale to conduct such trials. If positive, the results of these trials would have strong potential clinical and public health implications.
A report from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that 47.2% of American adults aged 30 years and older have some form of periodontal disease, a pathological inflammatory condition of the gums and tissues surrounding the teeth.
Periodontal disease increases with age affecting more than 70% of adults 65 years and older.
Prior research has suggested that periodontal disease may be connected to a variety of other diseases, including heart disease and stroke and other inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.
Inflammation throughout the body may be a crucial link between periodontal and other systemic diseases.
The lead author of the study is Charles H. Hennekens, M.D., Dr.P.H., first Sir Richard Doll Professor in FAU’s Schmidt College of Medicine.
The study is published in the American Journal of Medicine.
Copyright © 2020 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
