Science Friday Kids' Connection^tm -- in association with Kidsnet
Gumming Up the Works: Gum Disease & Heart Disease (February 11, 2005, One)

Program Summary | Guests | Related Links and Resources | For Discussion | Activities | Hear the program | About Kids Connection | SFKC Home

Program Summary

You know why you shouldn’t brush off brushing and flossing your teeth – cavities, gum disease, bad breath! Bet you didn’t know that poor dental health might endanger your heart’s health as well. It has long been suspected that bacteria from infected gums could cause a variety of heart problems; now a new study points to how the two might be connected.

First, the researchers stress that this possible link between certain bacteria in the mouth and heart disease is not yet fully studied. But here is what they found: Several strains of bacteria that cause periodontal disease can enter the blood stream and travel to the heart, where they can cause thickening of the arteries. Thickened arteries reduce blood flow to the heart, increasing the risk of heart attack. Thickened carotid arteries (arteries that lead to the brain) can raise the risk of stroke. To connect the dots, researchers will have to find out which came first, the thickened arteries, or the nasty bacteria in the mouth.

Guests

Moise Desvarieux, assistant professor of epidemiology in the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University Medical Center in New York, New York

Related Links and Resources

BBC News, February 8, 2005: Tooth-brushing 'cuts heart risk'
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, February 7, 2005: Study finds direct association between cardiovascular disease and periodontal bacteria
USNews.com, February 9, 2005: Floss your teeth

For Discussion:

• What did the study reveal about the link between gum disease and heart disease?

• How do bacteria from the gums enter the bloodstream? How can they damage other organs?

• What effects does gum disease have on your oral health?

• How does flossing prevent gum disease?

Activities

Have a heart. Oral Health and Your Heart (Dentalgentle care.com) reiterates the connection with plenty of statistics. The site’s Periodontal Disease Index offers detailed information about every aspect of the malady and includes a quiz you can take to assess your own periodontal status.

Tale of the teeth. One look at the graphic evidence of the horrors of periodontal disease will send you screaming for your toothbrush. TeensHealth has a gentler discussion of gum disease and instructions on how to brush and floss. You can find animations for kids on dental care topics at the American Dental Association. Brain Pop’s clever animated movie about teeth can be accessed through the Kids Zone at Wolfson Children’s Hospital (click on the tooth symbol). While Brain Pop offers some free movies, most are available by subscription only, so bookmark this site for future free access. At Healthy Teeth: Hands-On Science Activities (Education World), experiments with vinegar, eggs, and chicken bones show what happens when you don’t brush.

Use the search box below to perform a Google search within any of the specifc sites or general domains mentioned in this Activities section.

Hear the Program

Listen to this program in RealAudio!

RealAudio archive courtesy of NPR Online. If nothing happens when you click the link, you may need to download a free player.