Dr Jason Pang (https://www.cosmicsmile.com.au) discusses the link between the microbiota of the mouth and its relationship to the health of the mouth and overall health.
Bacteria in the mouth form biofilms on all its surfaces – the teeth, gums, tongue, cheeks and more. When bacteria grow excessively or when pathogenic bacteria are present, it is known as dysbiosis. Oral dysbiosis is responsible for dental caries, tooth infections, gum disease and is associated with systemic diseases like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, rheumatic arthritis, pregnancy complications and pulmonary disease. The oral bacteria that cause oral inflammation can also cause an increase in systemic inflammatory markers and potentially cancers of the GI system.
Learn how these bacteria can travel to other parts of the body and cause inflammation in everything from the endothelial system to cause cardiovascular disease; to the lungs to cause aspirated pneumonia; to the colon to worsen irritable bowel disease; to the brain to increase neuroinflammation and even to an unborn foetus to cause congenital syphilis.
Prevention is much better than trying to cure disease. By monitoring how well a patient brushes in combination with using a phase-contrast microscope to observe the level of dysbiosis, treatment and corrective measures can be started months to years before the clinical symptoms of gum disease manifest. Treatment options like air polishing, ozone rinsing and the dental laser help remove biofilm, reduce biofilm regrowth and minimise bacterial penetration. Management becomes much easier and with a much higher chance of success.
Periodontal treatment helps to reduce systemic biomarkers of systemic inflammation such as CRP and IL-6; improve endothelial function; minimise acute flare-ups of rheumatoid arthritis; and significantly reduce the biomarkers associated with type-2 diabetes. And by providing written reports of treatment progress to physicians and specialists, care givers can provide more integrative care to their patients and improve treatment outcomes.
