The flossophy of oral hygiene: the relationship between periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease

Abstract

It has been estimated that approximately half of the US population has some level of periodontal disease (Paul, 2015). The following paper analyzes four different studies that support my hypothesis which states that a relationship does exist between periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease. For example, in rabbits, it was observed that periodontal inflammation stimulated by P. gingivalis dramatically increased lipid deposition in the rabbit’s arteries (Jain, A. et al., 2003). Moreover, it was demonstrated that statins have a pleiotropic effect on arterial and non-arterial inflammation. Along with my literature research, I educated first-graders about the importance of oral hygiene. The first part of the lesson included a PowerPoint presentation about a superhero tooth stopping a villain from causing cavities. Following the presentation, the students participated in an activity where they sorted food and activities into different categories based on healthy and unhealthy habits. Overall, this study confirms a relationship between periodontitis and cardiovascular disease in US adults; and encourages public health educational programs to educate cavity prevention starting at an early age.