University of Pennsylvania Study Finds That Gum Disease Bacteria Selectively Disarm Immune System

In a recent study at the University of Pennsylvania, researchers have found that Gum Disease bacteria selectively disarms the immune system.

From the Penn News…

The human body is comprised of roughly 10 times more bacterial cells than human cells. In healthy people, these bacteria are typically harmless and often helpful, keeping disease-causing microbes at bay. But, when disturbances knock these bacterial populations out of balance, illnesses can arise. Periodontitis, a severe form of gum disease, is one example.

In a new study, University of Pennsylvania researchers show that bacteria responsible for many cases of periodontitis cause this imbalance, known as dysbiosis, with a sophisticated, two-prong manipulation of the human immune system.

Their findings, reported in the journal Cell Host & Microbe, lay out the mechanism, revealing that the periodontal bacterium Porphyromonas gingivalis acts on two molecular pathways to simultaneously block immune cells’ killing ability while preserving the cells’ ability to cause inflammation.

The selective strategy protects “bystander” gum bacteria from immune system clearance, promoting dysbiosis and leading to the bone loss and inflammation that characterizes periodontitis. At the same time, breakdown products produced by inflammation provide essential nutrients that “feed” the dysbiotic microbial community. The result is a vicious cycle in which inflammation and dysbiosis reinforce one another, exacerbating periodontitis.

Information like this recent study reinforces the importance of seeking treatment for periodontal disease – and not waiting until the issues with your gum and teeth are really serious.

If your dentist has recommended that you go a see a periodontist (or you have already talked to a periodontist about issues you might be having) it’s best not to wait. A conversation with our staff can help out line treatment options.

Most treatment options are not as “scary” as most people think. The field of periodontics has advanced tremendously in the past decade or so with many of those advancements ensuring that procedures are relatively painless for patients. They can also get back to their daily routines quicker and without a long recovery period.

Speak with a Ft. Lauderdale Periodontist Today about Gum Disease

If you have questions for a periodontist – what we do, how we can help your smile or how we treat gum disease – please contact our offices. We’d be happy to talk more with you!

Deerfield Beach office: (954) 427-5700