Cirrhosis and Gum Disease

Brushing and flossing could help a lot more than just your mouth. In recent years, scientists have found evidence linking oral health conditions to other issues in the body, including diabetes and high blood pressure. Now, we at Dr. Suzanne Haeri’s West Los Angeles dental practice want to pass along information showing that treating gum disease improves symptoms of cirrhosis.

Inflammation is a part of the immune system’s response, but when the liver is inflamed chronically, it could scar over. This is cirrhosis, and it significantly reduces the liver’s effectiveness at filtering blood. With less effective filtering, inflammation becomes worse and many people experience cognitive decline. Scientists expected cirrhosis to be common in people with periodontal disease because they both can be caused by smoking and heavy use of alcohol. But unusually high rates of gum disease have also been found in people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, so scientists started looking for a causative link.

In a study conducted by Virginia Commonwealth University, people with both diseases were examined for symptoms of cirrhosis after getting periodontal therapy. Patients who were treated were found to have better cognitive function and more anti-inflammatory gut bacteria than the control group. Scientists are excited by this potential new avenue to treating cirrhosis. We hope that anyone suffering from gum disease will come to us for help regardless, and that they might find unexpected benefits.

Suzanne Haeri, DDS, is located at 1100 S. La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles, California, 90035. To set up an appointment, call 310-647-2200 or visit Suzanne Haeri DDS and fill out a request.