Gum inflammation may increase your risks of developing other forms of inflammation, such as arthritis, by creating changes to immune cell precursors in the bone marrow according to new research.

Researchers have revealed the mechanism by which innate immune memory can cause an inflammatory condition – in this case, gum disease – by increasing the susceptibility to developing arthritis, through alterations to immune cell precursors in the bone marrow.

The research published in the paper Cell, used a mouse model to demonstrate that recipients of a bone marrow transplant were predisposed to more severe arthritis if their donor had inflammatory gum disease. [1] These test subjects also had more severe responses to a later immune system challenge, which is evidence of trained immunity. 

Research Highlights The Link Between Gum Disease and Inflammation 

 Although researchers just used periodontitis and arthritis for this model, their findings go beyond this, demonstrating that this link is in fact at the centre of the association between a variety of comorbidities.

Certain types of immune memory may also be caused by underlying inflammatory conditions that may put bone marrow transplant recipients at a higher risk of inflammatory disorders. 

Previous findings have shown that just like the adaptive immune system’s T cells and B cells, the innate immune system’s myeloid cells known as neutrophils and macrophages can “remember” past encounters, so they are more responsive when exposed to new threats.

The work pinpointed how memory was encoded and traced it back to the bone marrow, to show that this “trained immunity” can be transferred from one organism to another through a bone marrow transplant, protecting recipients from cancer through an innate immune response.

By testing this hypothesis, the team have shown that within a week of inducing a mouse to have periodontal disease, the animal’s myeloid cells and their progenitor cells expanded in the bone marrow. When examined weeks later, after the periodontitis was resolved, researchers didn’t notice any significant changes in how the cells looked or behaved.

The progenitor cells did however appear to memorise inflammation they were exposed to, and this created important epigenetic changes – or alterations in molecular markers affecting the ways genes turned on and off, without altering the actual DNA sequence. Researchers have found that these alterations are triggered by inflammation and could alter the manner in which future genes would be expressed. These epigenetic changes were noted as being associated with known signatures of the inflammatory response. 

How To Find Natural Anti-Inflammatory Relief 

Taking good care of your oral health and in particular your gums by following a good dental regime is just the start. To find natural anti-inflammatory relief, it’s recommended to take a holistic approach for your entire body. Here are some of our best recommendations…

Serrapeptase

Serrapeptase is a naturally occurring enzyme that can safely dissolve inflammation and dead scar tissue anywhere it is present in the body. As a result, the symptoms of inflammation can be reduced and this includes pain relief for a variety of conditions – including gum inflammation and arthritis. 

Curcumin 

This is powerful antioxidant compound that studies show can reduce pain and increase ease of movement in people with osteoarthritis. Research shows that patients with mild or moderate osteoarthritis who took a Curcumin supplement saw significant improvements in their pain and physical function after six weeks, when compared to a placebo. [2]

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Found in Krill Oil or fatty fish, Omega-3 fatty acids can reduce inflammation by inhibiting an enzyme called cyclooxygenase (COX), this produces prostaglandin hormones which otherwise spark inflammation. This is similar to what happens when taking an aspirin as this disrupts the COX-2 signaling pathway, reducing inflammation and pain.

Acupressure 

By stimulating the body’s acupressure points, it’s possible to relieve pain and muscle tension. By relieving inflammation, painful symptoms can improve and you can begin to find relief. Some studies suggest that acupressure releases endorphins and promotes its anti-inflammatory effects, which can help to provide relief for certain types of arthritis.

Magnesium 

Studies show that Magnesium supplements may help to reduce CRP or other markers of inflammation such as interleukin-6. [3] By applying Magnesium transdermally onto the skin this can encourage fast absorption of this essential mineral into the bloodstream. Ensuring you get enough daily Magnesium may therefore help reduce inflammation including painful symptoms related with arthritis, for example.

SAM-e 

As an anti-inflammatory, there is some evidence that SAM-e can be used as a treatment for osteoarthritis pain. Some studies also suggest that SAM-e is as effective as NSAIDs or painkillers. [4] 

References:

[1] https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(22)00393-2?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com

[2] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24853120/

[3] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30002686/

[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC387830/

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