Dental Infections can change Blood Change
-By Dr. George Meinig,D.D.S.
Gum Disease & General Health Tips #39
In this issue:
(1) Dental Infections can change Blood Changes
-By Dr. George Meinig, D.D.S., F.A.C.D.
By Dr. George Meining,D.D.S.,
In undertaking his studies, Dr. Price felt it would be of help to learn of any research disclosing what happens to a patient's blood when a dental infection is present. Sadly, he could find little in dental or medical literature, nor were his learned advisors able to furnish any information as to the impact of dental infections on human blood.
In order to better understand what happens to patients and rabbits when infected by oral pathologic bacteria, Dr.price jumped right in and studied that problem with his usual
thoroughness.
He made blood studies of patientss suffering from dental infections and found the number of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (a form of white blood cell which have nuclei with a variety of forms) was less than the normal average.
At the same time, he noted the number of small lymphocytes (white blood cells formed in lymph tissue) increased.
He also noted these changes returned to normal levels when the dental infection was removed.
In studying rabbits after infected teeth were implanted under their skin,he found blood changes occurred in these animals in the same way. That is,polymorphonuclear white
blood cells decreased 33 percent in number from their normal lever, and lymphocytes increased by 58 percent.
Slight changes were produced in the number of mature red cells(erythrocytes): in some cases these decreased, in others they increased.
The amounts of hemoglobin in the rabbits changed very little. In some it stayed the same and in others the amount present was reduced slightly. Hemoglobin is the red protein found inside of red blood cells that is responsible for the red color of blood.
A common occurrence is lymphocytosis. This is an increase in the number of lymphocyte, a form of white blood cell formed in lymphoid tissue throught the body.
Best wishes,
Sung Lee