Periodontist The Woodlands Discusses Dangerous Mouth Bacteria

It is widely known that bacteria build-up in the mouth can lead to tooth loss, halitosis and even more severe complications like Periodontal disease, but scientists have recently discovered a protein in bacteria that enable it to enter the bloodstream and infect the heart tissues leading to potentially fatal endocarditis. Microbiologists at the University of Rochester Medical Center have identified the protein, CNM, in Streptococcus mutans and are working to develop a screening protocol to find the microbe before it has the opportunity to cause harm. "Easily performed tests like a mouth swab or spit test can detect the bacteria, " says Dr. Kip Saunders, "and identify which patients are vulnerable to the condition. This would allow myself and other dental professionals to take greater care of our patients and prevent potentially lethal heart problems." Usually, S.mutans limits its activity to the mouth but in some cases it can also contain the protein CNM that gives the bacteria the ability to invade heart tissues by entering the bloodstream during a dental procedure or even vigorous flossing that causes the gums to bleed. Once in the bloodstream, a normal immune system usually destroys the bacteria but in rare cases in can travel to the heart and root itself in the heart valves leading to an inflammation of the heart valves also known as endocarditis.

As a specialist and pioneer in many revolutionary cosmetic dental procedures like his lip lowering procedure to tackle a gummy smile and his gum bleaching technique, Periodontist The Woodlands, Dr. Kip Saunders is concerned about protecting his patients during these and more advanced procedures. "As a specialist in cosmetic procedures, giving my patients a perfect smile is just as important as maintaining oral health to ensure a lifetime of beautiful smiles, " says Dr. Saunders, "being able to screen for such problems allows for dental professionals like myself to be at the frontline in combating the problem."

Scientists at the University's Center for Oral Biology have been making great strides in research and development towards understanding the CNM Protein; recently they have been able to isolate the gene responsible for allowing the bacteria to gain a foothold in the heart tissue. This discovery could be the beginning of new advancements in pre-screening patients for other oral problems associated with bacteria and perhaps even diseases to prevent and detect more complicated issues.

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