Better Cholesterol, Better Gums?

According to some research, statins taken for high cholesterol may also help reduce periodontal inflammation.

More than 40 million individuals in the U.S. take statins to help control cholesterol levels. These drugs are among the most commonly prescribed medications in the country. Now, researchers from the Medical University of South Carolina College of Dentistry are saying that statins may help improve your oral health as well as your arteries.

Periodontal (gum) disease occurs when the bacteria cause the body to fight illness with inflammation. Untreated, severe gum disease can eventually lead to tooth loss. During the South Carolina study, researchers reportedly replicated specific conditions in periodontal disease and said that introducing statins to their in-vitro model helped suppress periodontal inflammation. The findings were presented at “Discover BMB,” the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology’s annual meeting.

The South Carolina study is not the first time that a potential link has been raised regarding statins and a decrease in periodontal disease. As the authors concluded when presenting to the Academy of General Dentistry back in 2017: “Many of these new applications are directly relevant to dental therapy, specifically in periodontics. Dentists should familiarize themselves with the potential uses, benefits, and side effects of statins to consider possible future applications of statin therapy in dental practice.”

Periodontal disease has been linked to a plethora of systemic diseases including heart disease, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, some cancers and more.

If you have been diagnosed with periodontal disease, or are exhibiting some of the symptoms of periodontal disease, please don’t hesitate to contact our office today!