For decades, researchers have suggested a link between oral health and inflammatory diseases that affect the whole body, particularly heart attacks and strokes.
Researchers from the universities of Florida and Wisconsin collaborated on a randomized study. I study, “Correlation between oral health and systemic inflammation” (COHESION), aims to further explore whether Plaque HD, a toothpaste that highlights plaque, reduces high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), a sensitive marker for future heart attack and stroke risks.
Inflammation is intimately involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and is accurately measured from C-reactive protein
The results of the study published online in the American Journal of Medicine showed that Plaque HD® produced a statistically significant reduction in hs CRP.
The plaque in the spotlight
Plaque HD is the first toothpaste that identifies plaque so that it can be removed with direct brushing.
The proprietary formulation of the product contains unique combinations and concentrations of detergents that weaken the core of the plaque structure to help the subject visualize and remove it more effectively.
In this study, all randomized subjects received the same brushing protocol. They also received a 30-day supply of toothpaste containing Plaque HD or a placebo toothpaste. To evaluate hs-CRP, Quest Diagnostics measured levels using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
“The current results are similar to those of our previous pilot trial”Says Charles H. Hennekens, senior author of the study. “To understand whether this plaque-identifying toothpaste reduces heart attacks or strokes, large-scale randomized studies are needed. Studies of sufficient size and duration. These findings, however, provide a stronger rationale for conducting such studies. If positive, the results of these studies would have significant clinical potential and implications for health".
A report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that 47,2% of American adults aged 30 and older have some form of periodontal disease. It is a pathological inflammatory condition of the gums and tissues surrounding the teeth. Periodontal disease increases with age, affecting more than 70% of adults aged 65 and older. Previous research has suggested that periodontal disease may be linked to a variety of other diseases, including heart disease and stroke, and other inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. Inflammation throughout the body may be a crucial link between periodontology and other systemic diseases.
Based on these findings, Hennekens and colleagues are drafting a proposal to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to initiate the research.
