Dental-derived bacteria can affect the occurrence of cerebral infarction, according to a doctoral study at the University of Tampere.
Careful tooth brushing and regular dental care can prevent brain infarctions, according to a Finnish study.
According to the study, inflammation caused by dental bacteria may play an important role in the development of cerebral infarction and other cardiovascular diseases.
Licentiate of Medicine Olli Patrakka found out in his doctoral research that the blood clots that cause brain infarcts contain the same bacteria as the dental plaque that accumulates on the surface of the tooth.
These streptococci of the Viridans group are normal microbes in the mouth, but when they enter the bloodstream, they can cause serious diseases, such as inflammation of the heart valves.
– We found that viridans streptococci were found in the majority of cerebral blood clots. Such a discovery has not been reported before, says Patrakka in the Tampere University press release.
In the study, significantly more viridans streptococci were found in stenotic carotid artery samples compared to healthy samples. The link between poor oral health and stroke was related to carotid atherosclerosis.
There is a link between poor oral health and stroke. Adobe Stock / AOP
In connection with inflammation
Oral bacteria can enter the bloodstream, for example, during a dental procedure or tooth infection. This can speed up the development of arteriosclerosis and affect the development of inflammation.
Cerebral infarction is most often caused by arteriosclerosis, i.e. the same disease that causes, for example, coronary artery disease.
In the future, according to Patraka, it would be necessary to find out, for example, how timely antibiotic treatment could affect the patient’s prognosis. According to him, it is also worth investigating the development of a bacterial vaccine.
THE FACTS
Urgent help is needed
In a cerebral infarction, part of the brain tissue is left without oxygen and is destroyed. The cause is blockage of the cerebral arteries.
Sometimes the blockage is caused by a blood clot in the narrowed artery. Most often, the cause is, for example, a clot that has set off from the heart or carotid artery.
Risk factors for cerebral infarction include high blood pressure, high LDL cholesterol, diabetes, overweight, obesity and little physical activity.
When a cerebral infarction occurs, urgent treatment is needed. Dilution therapy must be started quickly.
Cerebral infarction requires rapid treatment. Adobe stock/AOP
Lots of bacteria
A lot is already known about the connection between the mouth and general health. There are a lot of microbes in the mouth, and some of them can spread into the body with the bloodstream, so that the risk of getting sick with heart disease and stroke increases.
Last year, we reported on a study that found that common oral inflammatory diseases such as caries and periodontitis, if left untreated, affect blood fat values for perhaps a lifetime.
These inflammatory changes increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
It has already been found in previous Finnish studies that poor oral health in childhood predisposes to the precursors of atherosclerosis and metabolic syndrome in adulthood. As an adult, caries and tooth spots were associated with, for example, high blood pressure, obesity and low levels of good HDL cholesterol.
About 17,000 people in Finland have a cerebral infarction every year. A fifth of them are of working age.
Oral health has been found to have a major impact on overall health in many studies. Adobe Stock / AOP
THE FACTS
Here’s how to prevent problems:
– Superficial gingivitis requires good dental hygiene. Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. Brushing removes the layer of bacteria from the surface of tooth enamel.
– Prefer an electric toothbrush. It reduces plaque more effectively than a regular toothbrush.
– Brush your teeth before breakfast. That way, the surface of the glaze has time to harden before eating.
– You should pay attention to cleaning the interdental spaces with either interdental brushes or dental floss, because periodontitis often starts in the interdental spaces in the back area. Floss your teeth before brushing, then the fluoride in the toothpaste will remain and affect the spaces between the teeth.
– Bleeding gums when brushing or cleaning between the teeth is a sign of inflammation. Then clean your teeth even more thoroughly despite the leak. The bleeding stops when the inflammation heals.
– Avoid smoking, as it increases the risk of gingivitis. A smoker’s gingivitis is easily overlooked because smoking constricts the blood vessels in the gums and bleeding does not occur because of this.
– See a dentist if the heat causes irritation. It usually indicates a beginning inflammation. If you have a cold, a toothpaste intended for frequently sore teeth will help. If the problem persists for a long time in the same tooth, it is worth showing it to the dentist.
– Visit the dentist regularly. The changes will then be noticed in time.
#Brushing #teeth #surprising #effect
