URI Researchers Studying Link between Oral Health & Heart Disease

By: Tim Studebaker

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KINGSTON, R.I. (WLNE) – The link between poor oral health and heart disease has been well established, according to Dr. Matthew Ramsey, Assistant Professor of Cell and Molecular Biology at University of Rhode Island.

Ramsey says, “When you have more and more incidences of periodontal disease, the likelihood of developing some severe cardiac episode later in life becomes greater and greater.”

Until now, most of the research has focused on studying people with poor oral health and heart disease.  Ramsey’s approach is totally different. His research is focusing on beneficial bacteria in healthy people.

Ramsey says, “We don’t see a lot of money being spent on understanding the normal, healthy condition because that’s not killing people or making them sick.  But, what I think we’re starting to realize now is we might be able to leverage what’s happening in that healthy condition better to prevent infection.”

The point of the study, Ramsey says, is to figure out how beneficial bacteria in the mouth might be able to keep our mouths healthy.  Keeping our mouths healthy could potentially cut down on the need for antibiotics to kill harmful bacteria that cause damaging inflammation throughout the body when oral health deteriorates.

Ramsey says, “We’re sort of looking for things to start using before it’s a problem, not after.  And, I think that’s an important way for a lot of us to view medicine and treatment in general.”

The five year study will be funded by a grant from the National Institutes of Health.

Ramsey says, “We’re really putting both money and education and trained employees back into the tech sector in Rhode Island.  And it’s money going into URI as well.”

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