Bad teeth put the bite on heart problems

Research has found that certain microbes from your teeth can get into your bloodstream and travel through your blood to your heart.

An example could be if you have an infection in your gum or underneath your tooth.

That bacteria (Strep Gordoni) can mimic a specific type of protein called fibrinogen, leading to blood clots and it also has been found in joints.

There is also a particular type of bacteria (Strep Viridans) found in the teeth that have been discovered in 84 per cent of stroke victims.

Microbes from your mouth can end up in different parts of your body.  One of the most critical vitamins you need is Vitamin K2, which is all about keeping your bones and teeth strong.

When it is missing, calcium from your bones and your teeth travels through your body ending up in arteries, soft tissues, and joints.

If this happens, it can eventually cause calcification, heart problems, joint issues, and dental problems.

When treating this issue, you will also need to look at your diet as what you eat will be a significant contributing factor.  The reason is that consuming a lot of carbohydrates and refined sugars create cavities and bacteria.

In turn, this causes bacteria to travel through your body system and lodge in other areas where they shouldn’t be, thus creating systemic health issues.

Vitamin K2 also needs other nutrients to be absorbed.  Notably, Vitamins A and D, which are fat-soluble vitamins. Thankfully, quite a few of the foods that have Vitamins A and D in them also contain the all-important Vitamin K2.  Here are some foods that have plentiful Vitamin D:

• Butter (grass-fed or organic where possible)
• Chicken leg and thigh (the dark meat)
• Liver (duck liver in particular)
• Egg yolks (from pasture-raised chickens)
• Certain cheeses (for example, European hard cheeses such as Jahlsberg, Muenster, and Gouda, are K2 rich.
• Fermented soy products.

One of the most important things you need to do is stop eating sugar because sugar feeds the microbes.

The microbes then ferment, giving off acid and destroying teeth and the soft tissues around them.

The compounding problem to all of this is that your body cannot use Vitamin C in the presence of sugar, and this vitamin is essential for collagen production.  Collagen holds teeth into the bone, forms ligaments, tendons, and muscle, and provides skin with structure.

The amount of collagen production in your body decreases as you get older, so the risk of degenerative joint disorders such as arthritis, osteoarthritis, etc., increases.

Natural antibiotics with no side effects that will kill harmful bacteria in your mouth are:

Oregano oil (five drops in a cup of hot water, taken three times a day), thyme, garlic and cloves.

These are natural antibiotics and are excellent, especially if you have a systemic infection in your body.

A note of caution: If you are on blood thinners or anti-clotting medication, speak to your health professional before taking extra Vitamin K2 into your diet.

Trudy Kither is a naturopath and owner of Nature’s Temple at Palmwoods. Visit naturestemple.net