Week: 618.1

Guest: Dr. Tim Rose, President, American Academy of Periodontology

Topic: Periodontal disease / heart disease

Host/Producer: Steve Girard

NEMA: You may have been surprised by the news that periodontal disease has a connection with heart disease. This is Dr. Tim Rose, president of the American Academy of Periodontogy...

ROSE: Some of the bacteria that can cause periodontal disease, and appear in the oral cavity are also some of the bacteria that excrete enzymes and other products that in fact can affect the bloodstream of a patient. Now, as we get further into this problem, we're finding that there are all kinds of systemic connections between oral infections and just general health.

NEMA: Dr. Rose says research shows possible links between periodontal disease bacteria and premature births, diabetes and osteoporosis. I'm Steve Girard at The Heart of the Matter.