Readers of my book Virtual Medicine will know that I quoted a curious fact in the chapter called “Weird or What?”
At the start of the 20th century, the number one predictor of death by heart disease was dental abscesses; and that, by the end of the 20th century, the biggest predictor of death by heart disease was… no, not exactly abscesses. But a major dental problem, gum (periodontal) infections.
Now a specific bacteria has been implicated, called Streptococcus gordonii. It can enter the blood stream and increase the risk of dangerous blood clotting. It mimics the effect of fibrinogen, which is a major blood-clotting factor.
Fibrinogen activates platelets (cells that are found in blood and involved in clotting), which stick together and form clumps that start the clotting process. The resulting blood clots encase the bacteria, protecting the invader from the immune system and from antibiotics used to treat infection.
Platelet clumping can result in growths on the heart valves (endocarditis) or blood vessel inflammation that can block blood supply to the heart or brain. If clots take place in a major supply artery, like the coronary artery, you could be in big trouble (sudden death).
These findings were presented at a Society for General Microbiology meeting in Dublin, my old stomping ground, this week.
It emphasizes the importance of keeping gums healthy and getting regular dental care.
Avoid sugar like poison, since that turns your mouth into a food yard for bacteria.
You can consider regular clean ups, using an antiseptic. Don’t use Listerine, which is toxic junk sweetened with sorbitol or (worse) sucralose.
But you can try hydrogen peroxide (The 1-Minute Cure) or, even better, chlorine dioxide protocol (sold as MMS) or a sodium chlorite (same thing) mouthwash, such as TheraBreath, Oxyfresh, CloSYS and ProFresh.
[SOURCE: Society for General Microbiology, news release, March 25, 2012]
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