Apparently the culprit is Porphyromonas gingivalis, the key bacteria in chronic gum disease. The mechanism is described in the article.
I think there are two aspects of interest to afibbers:
1. Afibbers have increased risk of dementia including Alzheimers
2. Gingivitis is also associated with a 50% increased risk of AF
So it would seem like a really good idea for afibbers to get rid of any gum disease. It's a double whammy, reducing the risk of both AF and Alzheimers.
Written by
MarkS
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Yes. it is already quite well known that neglecting your teeth can affect your heart and not just Afib. A lot of very elderlies who do not have the advantage of good caring in every sense of the phrase are much more likely to develop heart conditions or so I have read. When in hospital a couple of years ago and confined to bed it was quite difficult to get a nurse to bring me all I needed to take care of my teeth.I was not there too long thankfully but it does alert you to problems.
I'm doomed then! Been fighting this problem for the last fifteen years despite three monthly hygiene visits. We are what we are and some of us have dodgy gums my dentist tells me. My wife is even worse and has lost many more teeth than I at 12 years my junior.
Pretty sure mouth hygiene was a contributory factor to my AF. So had a purge which included £6K+ of dental fees, lots more time cleaning, less sugar in diet and CoQ10 supplement; the latter as well as good for the heart also I read is good for improving dental health amongst other body stuff. Also found an award winning dental hygienist, who kick started a different attitude....never too late to change!
I have problems with my gums. In he past, the dentist has said that I brush too vigorously, leading to gum loosening around the base of the teeth. I tried an electric toothbrush but just couldn't get on with it.
I have only recently begun to use a mouthwash and hope it helps keep the bad bacteria at bay. I put off using it for years because I prefer natural products and i know that mouthwash kills off the good bacteria as well as the baddies, and generally upsets the balance of the microbiome in the mouth and guts.
I'll put some effort into researching natural mouthwash products :o)
I used to brush too vigorously too, which resulted in receding gums. Fortunately I've managed to stop that now. I use an Oral B electric toothbrush which I find great. I did try a Philips sonicare but I didn't like it's buzzing and sensation on my teeth. I also use Tepe interdental brushes and Oral-B Glide floss for my back teeth. That stopped my bleeding gums in a few months and my dentist is very pleased with my oral hygiene.
I did similar many years ago. First I saw the gums specialist, and he planned a scrape and clean below the gum line, but first he sent me home for six weeks to floss and use the Braun electric brush, to gently massage the gum line. As a result, he was able to finish the gums treatment in one go, not two.
This scraping was not at all painful -- it used fine particles of salt in powerful jets. I told him I gagged easily and he planned the work so I did not gag.
Find the floss that works for you, use the electric brushes.
BTW this specialist was against the use of mouthwashes because this kills the good cells as well as the bad. But, when I had a tooth out, bleeding was checked with hydrogen peroxide (oral strength) which has the advantage over mouthwashes of attacking the food that is stuck.
This product looks good, on Amazon. It is expensive and apparently tastes disgusting... but well worth it if it actually works!? The reviews are very good.
Only one person mentioned CoQ10 supplements here -- but it is extremely important that you take them. I read an article about that like 30 years ago, and have been taking them since then. I have never had any gum problems, altho I have always had weak teeth and still get occasional cavities at age 71. My dentist said that she can tell just by looking at somebody's mouth if they take CoQ10.
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