Gum Disease and Rheumatoid Arthritis
Poor dental hygiene and gum disease may trigger symptom flares in patients with autoimmune conditions, like rheumatoid arthritis. Fortunately, prevention for oral bacteria overgrowth is simple:
1) Brush and floss your teeth daily.
2) Reduce sugar in your diet.
3) Eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables.
4) Take anti-inflammatory supplements, such as fish oil and turmeric.
5) Discuss other preventive measures with your physician.
For a complete discussion on recent research – continue below:
Gum disease (periodontitis) is a condition in which there is chronic inflammation in the mouth and gums due to a bacterial overgrowth. It is estimated that approximately half of all Americans over the age of 30 have some form of periodontitis. The severity of the condition varies upon many factors including the type of bacteria present, the amount of plaque present, and genetic and environmental risk factors. Until recently it was thought that gum disease was located only in the mouth and that the inflammation produced was limited to the teeth and gums. But studies now are showing that inflammation in the mouth can affect the entire body.
Many studies recently have shown that gum disease affects many common conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and breathing conditions, and additional evidence shows that it may contribute to autoimmune diseases as well.
Causes of autoimmune diseases are only moderately understood, but what we do know are that certain triggers in the body will cause the immune system to attack normal tissue. In rheumatoid arthritis, the immune system produces antibodies that cause inflammation in the joints which leads to severe degradation of the joints and soft tissue in the area. Those with rheumatoid arthritis suffer from severe malformation of the joints and eventual loss of function in the hands and other joints in the body.
So how does this connect to periodontitis? Newer studies have shown that antibody levels to P. gingivalis, the main bacteria in gum disease (AKA gingivitis), have correlated with anti-CCP antibody levels in rheumatoid arthritis. In fact, antibody levels to several different types of bacteria in periodontitis are found to be significantly higher in people with rheumatoid arthritis. This may mean that the presence of these types of bacteria may trigger antibodies in those with rheumatoid arthritis.
Other links between gum disease and rheumatoid arthritis include genetic associations. People with rapidly progressive periodontitis are more likely to have similar HLA-DRB1 alleles to those with rheumatoid arthritis. These types of alleles are also present in high numbers in other autoimmune inflammatory conditions. This genetic susceptibility may predispose people to developing periodontitis and rheumatoid arthritis.
While there are already many other triggers for autoimmune diseases such as food allergies, heavy metal toxicity, and viral infections, this newer research is helpful in identifying additional triggers to autoimmune conditions. Treating gum disease is a relatively simple process and works well with other natural treatments for inflammation such as reducing sugar in the diet or eating whole fruits and vegetables.
If you have questions about ways you can treat rheumatoid arthritis naturally, call our office today to speak with one of our knowledgeable physicians.
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