Can dental health protect against an autoimmune disease?

"How many years have I been lying in this chair?" I ask my dentist, Spyros Silvestro, waiting for him to start doing my scheduled six-monthly checkup.

"Twenty-three years," he answers me.

My dentist (along with my gynecologist) is one of the longest, most consistent and regular relationships I've had, excluding my girlfriends. I follow his instructions for proper cleaning faithfully. Yet, every time I lie down in the chair I feel like one of those little kids in kindergarten waiting to get a star sticker if they've done well on a test.

We go to the dentist because we want our teeth to be clean and white so we can smile broadly. To avoid gingivitis, tooth decay, and periodontitis, which can create and lead to more problems. However, there is another reason why we should be formal at our appointments, as I read in “Proto Thema” and I am publishing the article. Regular oral care in general can prevent chronic joint pain, as shown by a recent study by researchers from Rice University published in Science Translational Medicine. After experiments conducted by biologist Dr. Vicky Yao, she discovered traces of bacteria associated with periodontal disease in samples from patients with rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation in the joints. Further investigation has shown that a whole series of experiments have seemingly confirmed the link between arthritis flare-ups and gum disease. Continuing research and exploring this link between the two could in the future lead to the development of new treatments for rheumatoid arthritis.

She first confirmed her hypothesis by taking a closer look at data collected from rheumatoid arthritis patients by Dr. Dana Orange, an associate professor of clinical research and rheumatologist, and Dr. Bob Darnell, a professor and curator at The Rockefeller University and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. By tracking rheumatoid arthritis patients’ flare-ups, she found that the microbes in the samples that consistently changed in patients before their flare-ups were largely the same microbes associated with periodontitis. Dr. Yao has now shifted her main focus to cancer research. If the presence of a tumor creates a field of concentrated microbes that can be identified, then perhaps earlier diagnosis or a less invasive or costly method could be possible.

Oral cavity and microbiome

There is another study published in Arthritis & Rheumatology Trusted Source. The oral cavity and specifically the microbiome and periodontal health may be the new diagnostic tool. The researchers analyzed data from three groups of fifty people regarding the two factors above, one with people with early rheumatoid arthritis, a control group without rheumatoid arthritis, risk factors or other autoimmune diseases and in good overall health as well as a group with people at high risk for the disease, so to speak with arthralgia or autoantibodies against citrullinated peptides (ACPA) in the blood serum. ACPA antibodies precede the onset of clinical symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis by months to many years and are the biomarker with the greatest diagnostic value for the disease. Participants underwent a dental and periodontal examination that included examination of the gums for bleeding or inflammation and of the teeth for loss, fillings, cavities or decay as well as removable dentures and collection of samples from the surface of the tongue, saliva and subgingival tartar. At the same time, they were asked about the measures they take for oral hygiene and when they last brushed their teeth. The results of the examinations showed no differences in the periodontal health of the participants or the dental plaque, however, they revealed significant differences in the microbial population of the saliva and tongue where participants with early rheumatoid arthritis or risk factors for the disease, higher concentrations of bacteria of two specific genera were observed indicating the connection of the microbiome of the oral cavity with rheumatoid arthritis.

Conclusion? Every six months we mark our appointment with the dentist in our calendar.

Small tips:

· We brush our teeth morning and night to remove plaque and protect the enamel from acids that erode it.

· We always use the interdental brush.

· We use mouthwash which provides additional protection against bacteria and acids that can cause discoloration and yellowing of teeth. You will find small packages in the market to keep in your bag. It will also provide you with fresh breath after every meal.

· Remember that consuming foods rich in sugar is detrimental to dental health.

· We change our toothbrush every three months.