Another reason to keep your mouth squeaky clean. A professor at Case Western Reserve School of Dental Medicine has discovered that the common oral bacteria Fusobacterium nucleatum has the ability to knock out the safeguards that protect our blood vessels and allow bacteria to spread. This bacterium is the most common of the 700 or so bacteria that inhabit the human mouth.

Dr. Yiping Han found that the germ has a bonding agent that allows it to unlock the cells on the blood vessels surface which allows it, and other germs such as E. coli, to cross the placental and blood-brain barriers. The bacteria has been found in infections and abscesses in the brain, lungs, liver, spleen and joints. Dr. Han had previously linked it to preterm labor and fetal death.

This bacteria typically enters the bloodstream through breaks in the mucous membranes in the mouth. Periodontal disease offers this bug, and others, the opportunity to enter the bloodstream and cause damage to many systems of the body.

Keeping your gums healthy by practicing excellent home care including brushing and flossing as directed by your dental hygienist is important. Home care alone can’t diagnose or treat periodontal disease. Treating gum disease and getting it under control as soon as possible is very important for your overall health. If you experience puffy, sore gums or if you bleed when brushing or flossing you need to visit your dentist as soon as possible. Early treatment is simple and inexpensive — waiting makes treatment much more complex.

In Columbus, OH please contact StoneRidge Dental Care today at 614-476-6696 to schedule your dental hygiene visit. Remember that keeping your dental hygiene schedule of professional cleanings two times per year can save health care dollars in the future. If you have active gum disease you may need to visit your hygienist more frequently.