Throughout my previous newsletter issues, you’ve learned a great deal about the principles of healthy aging—from low-glycemic/ low-fat nutrition to the right fitness regimens, nutraceuticals and correcting your hormonal balance for optimal living.

But there’s another key factor you need to keep tabs on to stay proactive with your health approach . . . and even, avoid premature death. Know what it is? Oral health.

Here’s our focus: There are common risk factors in both cardiovascular disease (heart disease and stroke) and periodontal disease, an inflammatory disease of all supporting tissues of your teeth.

Periodontitis is caused by your genetic makeup and environmental influences. A year ago, the European Society of Cardiology released a revealing consensus document. The gist of the paper says . . .

• Oral health influences systematic health in general, but also impacts cardiovascular disease in particular.
• With the rise of periodontitis in populations, we see heart disease as a leading cause of death.
• Both oral and periodontal health must become part of a healthy lifestyle as a preventive measure against cardiovascular disease.

Most common disease in the world. Believe it or not,periodontal disease leads the pack when it comes to diseases. In fact, 75% of us have some form of the periodontal disease—and more than 100 million Americans have a chronic infection of the gums. Can you guess what that chronic infection is responsible for? Adult tooth loss. The basic forms are gingivitis and periodontitis (chronic and aggressive). Gingivitis is linked to those plaque deposits filled with mucus, food debris, bacteria and toxins, all of which lead to gum inflammation. Beyond that comes periodontitis, a destruction of bones/ ligaments that support your teeth. Approximately 30%-50% of us have the mild-to-moderate form of the disease; 5%-15% have the severe, generalized form.

Bacteria-inflammatory factor. Bacteria causing periodontal disease is directly linked to (i.e. can cause) . . .

• hypertension, per research in 2010 Journal of Hypertension
• increased cholesterol and triglyceride levels, per research in 2003 Journal of Lipid Research
• increased C-reactive protein and fibrinogen (both risk factors for heart disease), per research in 2010 BMJ
• elevated Lp-PLA2 levels (heightens stroke risk), per research in 2008 American Journal of Cardiology
• atherosclerotic inflammation, per research in Journal of American College of Cardiology
• shifts in A1C (worsening blood sugar control), per research in 2010

Diabetes Care

• endothelial dysfunction and an increased risk for stroke/heart attack, per case-controlled studies

Inflammation is the major culprit—it is the protective response your tissues have to destruction or injury. Pain, heat, redness, swelling and function loss are all “classical” signs of inflammation.

That inflammation can go on for days, months or even years, for that matter. Result? Chronic inflammation leading to systematic disease. The greater burden or “tipping point” this cumulative inflammatory effect has—chronic infection, systematic factors (diabetes, co-existing disease, lipids, etc.), genetic and environmental factors—the more your body moves into high-grade systematic inflammation.

And since untreated (or not well controlled) moderate-to-severe periodontitis raises the systematic inflammatory burden, it could be said that periodontitis “independently increases the risk for cardiovascular disease,” per research in the 2009 American Journal of Cardiology and The Journal of Periodontology.

That same research says your immune system—previously thought to be only a defense against infection—is a recognized active participant in many chronic diseases, including heart attacks and strokes.

Bottom line? You are 3.8 times more likely to have a heart attack if you have severe periodontal disease—and 2 times more likely to have a stroke.

But hold on . . . the reverse is also true.

Treating periodontal disease can actually improve endothelial function, glycemic control and reduce Lp-PLA2, which dramatically decreases your risk for heart attack and stroke.

 Learn more in my next issue so you can reverse the course of your health and live well longer by eliminating periodontal disease.