Oral Health: A Healthy Mouth Equals a Healthy Body
Chris D. Meletis, ND (with permission from cpmedical.net, access pin: 587556)
At first glance, supporting periodontal health seems like the least likely way to keep the entire body healthy. Yet, many fascinating studies are showing that good oral health is linked to optimal cardiovascular function, blood sugar metabolism and even cognitive health.
Much of the connection between periodontal health and other bodily systems involves inflammatory responses and micro-inflammatory responses. Suboptimal periodontal health directly activates micro-inflammatory molecules such as nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB), which impacts both endothelial and epithelial layers.1
This periodontal-related imbalanced inflammatory response leads to effects on various parts of the body including the heart, brain, liver and kidneys.2 Additionally, as noted in more detail later in this article, blood sugar metabolism also affects periodontal health.
