The Missing Link Between Heart Disease and Dental Health

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Sunday, January 04, 2009
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For years there have been hints and hypotheses that heart disease and periodontal (gum) disease are associated or share common factors. Among the more humorous notions held by the uninformed press and public was that heart plaque and tooth plaque were somehow the same thing. That dubious ...

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Thank you for speeding up the rate of dissemination.
James F Crummett DDS
Monday, January 12, 2009 at 02:10 AM

Thank you for speeding up the rate of dissemination of these articles. I agree with you that this is significant news. As practicing dentists, we have been eagerly awaiting documentation of a tighter link between inflamed gingival tissues and other systemic conditions, especially coronary artery disease. We have not wanted to present to the public that we contribute to heart health when all studies to date showed only correlation, but no direct link, such as gum treatment and an immediate effect on artery walls. Your post has found its way onto the Academy of Comprehensive Esthetics forum (ACEthetics), and has been distributed to hundreds of the country's most progressive and top dentists. Again, thank you. James F Crummett, DDS. Redding, CA

re: Thank you for speeding up the rate of dissemination.
HeartHawk
Monday, January 12, 2009 at 04:11 PM

Dear Dr. Crummett:

Thank you for your kind words. I am part of several groups that are on the bleeding (but not from the gums) edge of heart disease prevention and reversal. What is becoming increasingly clear is the inter-relationship of multiple health factors. It is almost as though what we are really seeing are different manifestations of the same underlying disease. It will require of consortium of these health disciplines to nail down a true cure for symptoms such as coronary artery disease. Wide spread dissemination of this groundbreaking concept is the first step.

Thanks again,

HeartHawk

Decrease bacteria in mouth - brush with baking soda
karen
Wednesday, January 28, 2009 at 11:27 AM

My dental hygenist recommended brushing with baking soda, as it creates an environment that bacteria can't easily grow in. Most toothpastes with baking soda don't have enough baking soda. I never had gum disease before, but did have some due to a prescription drug that slowed my mouth's saliva. Brushing with baking soda turned it all around. You'll notice the disappearance of the "fuzzies" on your teeth, as she explained. She said that if you only use it once per day, use it before bed, as that's when most bacteria are likely to grow. Wet your tooth brush and dip it into baking soda in a paper cup.

re: Decrease bacteria in mouth - brush with baking soda
marigold
Friday, March 13, 2009 at 11:41 AM

Hello. Do you mean that you first use toothpaste and then use baking soda? Or just baking soda?

re: re: Decrease bacteria in mouth - brush with baking soda
karen
Wednesday, March 18, 2009 at 11:42 AM

I think that you can do anything you want as long as the last "rinse" is the baking soda. Sometimes I brush my teeth with the electric toothbrush with regular tooth paste and follow it up with a rinse baking soda and water. The electric toothbrush scrubs the teeth for the two minutes and I like the minty taste.

Sometimes I manually brush with the baking soda. I run my brush under water and then dip it into a small container of baking soda (like a paper cup or plastic cup). I rinse the brush under the faucet at the end. Once a week a put the brushes in a cup with a drop of bleach for a few hours and then I rinse the brushes very thoroughly to remove any bleach. Again, the dentist said that if I choose to use baking soda only once during the day, then do it at bedtime. I have a bit of salty taste in my mouth in the morning, but it's better than bad breath.