Psoriasis and the importance of oral health: A rock musician’s transformative tale

From dentistryiq.com

A Finnish rock musician learns more about the connection between oral health and autoimmune disease in his journey to a healthier life 

Rock musician Mikko "Pide" von Hertzen, lead singer and guitarist of the globally successful Finnish rock band Von Hertzen Brothers, underwent a significant transformation in his early twenties due to the onset of a chronic skin disease. This health challenge served as a catalyst for him to seek a deeper meaning in life and prompted a newfound focus on his overall well-being, including his oral-systemic health.

Mikko described the early stages of his illness: "In the summer of 1994, I had a long cold, and I was applying for university at the same time, and a lot of other things were going on in my life. At the end of the summer, I noticed the first itchy patches on my skin. From there, the patches started to spread very quickly."

Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune disease that manifests as red patches on the skin, scaling, and sometimes joint pain. The World Health Organization estimates that around 2%–3% of the world's population suffers from psoriasis. Psoriasis usually appears in young adulthood, but it can start at any age.

"The onset of the disease was quite unexpected. Only afterward did I discover that I had a genetic predisposition to the disease and that it was triggered by a longer flu," the rocker says.

Second-generation Finnish rocker

Mikko, Kie, and Jonne von Hertzen are second-generation rock musician brothers. Their father, Hasse von Hertzen, has been playing rock music alongside his brother Lasse in The Roosters since the 1960s. The younger generation of brothers inherited their passion for making music through familial ties.

Mikko started playing the piano at a Finnish music school at age 4. In the seventh grade, he began playing the drums, and he made his first recordings with his brothers in 1990 when he was 17. Mikko, now 51, played in several popular Finnish rock bands, such as Venus Flytrap, Egotrippi, and Lemonator.

Journey toward a healthier lifestyle

The autoimmune disease psoriasis changed Mikko's self-image, and accepting the change wasn't always easy, he admits. But the experience opened the door to spiritual growth and new insights about life that he might not have been able to deal with at that stage of his life without the disease.

In 1998, Mikko went to India to work in an ashram and do yoga and meditation. He lived an outwardly ascetic life there: For the first couple of years, he slept on a mattress only a few millimetres thick, directly on the hard floor.

“I wanted to delve into the ultimate meaning of life and explore different philosophies, ideas, and religions about humanity and the meaning of the body. I like to believe that the onset of autoimmune disease and its timing in my life helped steer me in a direction that has proven to be the best and most meaningful for me.”

A healthy lifestyle helps to alleviate the skin symptoms of psoriasis, so when Mikko returned to Finland, his priority became good health.

“Having psoriasis has motivated me to pay special attention to lifestyle choices that support the well-being of my skin and body. Although I cannot influence the autoimmune disease, I can contribute to my well-being through choices such as following a vegetarian diet,” Mikko says.

Yoga, meditation, and a healthy diet are also ways he maintains a balanced mind, which is especially helpful in challenging life transitions.

Oral health and autoimmune diseases

Mikko acknowledges the importance of oral health for individuals with psoriasis. Studies indicate that those with psoriasis should be diligent about their oral hygiene, as they commonly face oral diseases like cavities and periodontitis.

Maintaining good oral hygiene is crucial in the treatment of autoimmune diseases. Psoriasis is occasionally treated with immune-suppressing drugs, emphasizing the need for meticulous oral care to diminish harmful bacteria in the mouth and simultaneously mitigate the body’s inflammatory response. The use of biological medications has become more common among individuals with psoriasis. Before resorting to these medications, it’s important to address the patient’s dental health. Sometimes, after dental treatment, the need for biological medications decreases as oral infection management alleviates the symptoms of psoriasis.

Scientific research underscores the connection between oral health and autoimmune diseases like psoriasis. Studies highlight the significance of controlling oral infections and maintaining good oral hygiene, as these practices can help reduce systemic inflammation and the associated systemic effects of poor oral health.

For Mikko, prioritizing oral health is crucial for several reasons. "In addition to psoriasis, I have a predisposition to enamel erosion that affects my oral health. I have been using a bite guard for many years; it prevents teeth from wearing down and helps maintain the enamel in good condition. All home remedies that enhance oral hygiene are necessary for my teeth."

Antibacterial therapy for oral health

The rock musician has been using an antibacterial photodynamic therapy (Lumoral), developed by Finnish scientists, for about six months. (Lumoral is not yet available in the US.)

"I have always tried to take the best possible care of my teeth, and the antibacterial treatment method is an excellent addition to this. When I use the device a couple of times a week as part of my overall oral hygiene routine, I can be sure that the bacterial balance in my mouth is in great shape."

Antibacterial treatment enhances the effects of the toothbrush, and studies show that it significantly improves preventive results compared to professional dental care. The technology slows down plaque formation, reducing the burden of harmful bacteria in the mouth.

https://www.dentistryiq.com/dentistry/oral-systemic-health/article/14305506/psoriasis-and-the-importance-of-oral-health-a-rock-musicians-transformative-tale

What to Know About Psoriatic Arthritis and Dental Problems

From healthline.com

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is an autoimmune disease that most often attacks and damages joints in your hands, feet, wrists, knees, neck, and spine. Yet it also can affect the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) in your jaw.

You actually have two temporomandibular joints — one on either side of your head, in front of your ears. The TMJ connects your jawbone to your skull. It allows your jaw to open and close like a hinge.

Problems with the TMJ are referred to as temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD). TMD causes pain and difficulty moving your jaw.

Up to 35 percent of people with PsA have TMD. When you have PsA, your TMD symptoms may be more severe.

TMJ pain makes it hard to eat and enjoy food. If you don’t get treated, damage to your jaw could be with you long term. That’s why it’s important to let your dentist and rheumatologist know if you have joint pain or any other TMD symptoms.

Can PsA cause jaw pain?

PsA can cause TMJ pain. It often starts in the morning or late afternoon. It may hurt more when you chew.

The pain can spread from your jaw to other parts of your face, as well as to your shoulder, neck, or back. Some people with TMD report having headaches or earaches.

Other symptoms of TMD are:

• a clicking, popping, or crackling sound when you open and close your jaw
• trouble opening and closing your mouth
• a feeling like your jaw is stuck or locked
• grinding your teeth, called bruxism
• dizziness
• tooth sensitivity and pain
• a misaligned bite

TMD can make you tense or clench your jaw. In turn, clenching makes TMD worse.

Eventually your TMJ can wear out completely, at which point you may need surgery.

PsA and periodontal disease

There’s also a link between PsA and gum disease (periodontitis).

Periodontitis starts when bacteria build up on your teeth and gums. These bacteria release toxins that produce inflammation, which damages your gums and can lead to tooth loss.

Psoriasis and PsA are inflammatory diseases, and they increase your risk for periodontitis and tooth decay. The more severe your PsA symptoms, the more likely you are to have gum disease.

How can PsA affect dental implants?

Dental implants are part of the treatment for tooth loss. These synthetic roots go into your jawbone to hold artificial teeth called crowns.

The biologic drugs you take to treat PsA may cause problems with dental implant surgery. These drugs dampen your immune system, which could increase your risk of infection.

So, you may need to switch arthritis drugs or take antibiotics before oral surgery to prevent infection.

It’s unknown whether having PsA might make dental implants more likely to fail. Still, it’s a good idea to let your dental surgeon know about your PsA before you have any surgery.

Research from 2017 shows that dental implants are more likely to fail in people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Some of the reasons why implants fail in people with RA are:

• Their body doesn’t heal as quickly as usual.
• They have gum disease.
• They don’t make enough saliva.

How to treat

The anti-inflammatory drugs and disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) that treat PsA can also prevent jaw damage. These medications bring down inflammation to relieve pain and protect your joints.

Physical therapy is another treatment for TMD. The therapist can teach you exercises to stretch your jaw and strengthen the muscles that support it. You’ll also learn how to keep your head and neck in better alignment to avoid putting extra strain on your jaw.

Along with taking medication, try these lifestyle changes:

• Rest your jaw until your symptoms improve.
• Avoid eating nuts and other hard foods and chewing gum. Stick to soft foods.
• Practice relaxation techniques, such as meditation and deep breathing, to help ease tension in your jaw.
• Ask your dentist to fit you for a mouth guard. You can wear this device when you sleep to stop you from grinding your teeth.
• Hold an ice pack or heating pad to your jaw.
• Rub on an arthritis pain cream (but ask your doctor first).

It’s rare to need surgery for TMD, but it may be an option if these treatments don’t improve your symptoms.

Arthroplasty is done through small incisions. The surgeon removes scars and thick areas of tissue that prevent your jaw from opening and closing as it should.

Open surgery may be an option if the surgeon needs to repair or replace the damaged joint. Open surgery is riskier than arthroplasty, however, and it’s only done when absolutely necessary.

The takeaway

Early treatment of TMD is key to preventing long-term joint damage.

If you notice any clicking, popping, or pain in your jaw, see both a dentist and the rheumatologist who treats your PsA. They might send you to a specialist called an oral and maxillofacial surgeon.

Prevent gum disease by practicing good oral hygiene. Brush after every meal, and floss once per day to remove food particles between your teeth. See your dentist for regular check-ups.

If you plan to have oral surgery, let your surgeon know that you have PsA. You may need to go on antibiotics beforehand or take special precautions to prevent infection and other complications.

https://www.healthline.com/health/psoriatic-arthritis/jaw-pain-and-more#treatment

Increasing Connection Between Poor Oral Health and Harmful Conditions Like Psoriasis Highlights Need for Good Dental Routine

From prweb.com

Dr. Sahar Verdi of Thousand Oaks-based dental centre Dental Specialists of California comments on a recent article that the simple act of brushing teeth can have a significant impact on an individual’s health and well-being

An October 13 article on WMC 5 Action News reports on a potential link between poor oral health and psoriatic arthritis. The exact nature of this link is still being determined but may involve bacterial infections in the mouth and the subsequent response from the body’s immune system. According to the hypothesis laid out by researchers, the body’s immune response to the bacterial infection may somehow be targeting the patient’s skin as well, causing the characteristic swelling and inflammation associated with psoriasis. Board-certified periodontist Dr. Sahar Verdi of Dental Specialists of California says that while it may still be too early to definitively say that poor oral health directly causes psoriasis, there are still many established links between unhealthy teeth and gums and other adverse conditions such as heart disease.

The Thousand Oaks-based periodontist notes that if individuals need any more convincing that their after-meal brushing routine makes a difference, this is it. Dr. Verdi says with the proven connections between poor oral health and deteriorating vitality in other areas of the body, daily dental care and maintenance should be taken very seriously.

People should be brushing their teeth for two minutes, roughly 30 minutes after every meal, she adds. Dr. Verdi notes that the first figure ensures a complete cleaning while the second figure provides ample time for tooth enamel to re-mineralize and harden after eating. Dr. Verdi says that while it may sound counterintuitive, brushing immediately after eating or drinking sugary or acidic foods could actually damage just-softened tooth enamel. The board-certified periodontist adds that stripped and weakened teeth are more vulnerable to tooth decay and may lead to diseases of the gums. If left unchecked, these oral ailments may increase the chances of individuals suffering other harmful conditions like stroke.

Dr. Verdi says even the increased chance of having to deal with something so serious should be enough to warn patients about the dangers of poor dental hygiene. The notes that patients who regularly brush and floss are significantly less likely to experience discoloured or stained teeth, and that the prospects of breaking or cracking a tooth are also notably lesser.

https://www.prweb.com/releases/increasing_connection_between_poor_oral_health_and_harmful_conditions_like_psoriasis_highlights_need_for_good_dental_routine_says_dr_sahar_verdi/prweb17527837.htm

Psoriasis: Brush, floss your way to better skin?

From wfmz.com

COLUMBUS, Ohio - For years, Douglas Levin struggled with psoriatic arthritis. Eventually, he adopted a healthier lifestyle to help counter the inflammation caused by his disease.

"Anytime you can control it by moderating your intake of food or other things, you're that much better off," shared Levin.

Researchers know that a problem with the immune system can trigger psoriasis. Now, Dr. Benjamin Kaffenberger, a medical dermatologist at The Ohio State University, is studying a potential link between poor oral health, bacterial infections in the mouth, and psoriasis.

"When your body is attempting to fight this bacteria, probably it develops a little bit of a cross-reaction with the skin at the same time," Kaffenberger explained.

Researchers surveyed 100 patients with psoriasis and 165 without psoriasis about their lifestyle and diet. The results showed that poor dental and oral health, especially gum pain, was associated with psoriasis.

"Unfortunately, a lot of patients don't have good access to dental care, or maybe just are too busy at a certain time frame, so they may not be getting that message when they have this disease in the first place," Kaffenberger said.

Patients who had higher fruit consumption reported less significant psoriasis. Researchers said that indicates fresh foods may be a protective factor. For Levin, lifestyle changes means psoriasis no longer controls his life or his time outdoors with his good boy.

The Ohio State University study also reinforced earlier studies that found family history of psoriasis, smoking and obesity could be predictors of the condition.

https://www.wfmz.com/health/health-beat/health-beat-psoriasis-brush-floss-your-way-to-better-skin/article_2e1944f4-13de-11eb-8252-0fe34910eebd.html

How your oral health can prevent psoriasis

From wmcactionnews5.com

COLUMBUS, Ohio. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- About seven and a half million Americans have psoriasis and about 40% of those patients also have joint inflammation that produces painful arthritis symptoms. Now, new research suggests one surprising potential cause for the condition and some preventive measures patients can take.

For years Douglas Levin struggled with psoriatic arthritis.

Eventually, Levin adopted a healthier lifestyle to help counter the inflammation caused by his disease.

“Anytime you can control it by moderating your intake of food or other things you’re that much better off,” shared Levin.

Researchers know that a problem with the immune system can trigger psoriasis. Now, Ohio State medical dermatologist Benjamin Kaffenberger is studying a potential link between poor oral health, bacterial infections in the mouth and psoriasis.

“When your body is attempting to fight this bacteria, probably it develops a little bit of a cross-reaction with the skin at the same time,” explained Kaffenberger.

Researchers surveyed 100 patients with psoriasis, and 165 without psoriasis about their lifestyle and diet. The results showed that poor dental and oral health, especially gum pain was associated with psoriasis.

“Unfortunately, a lot of patients don’t have good access to dental care, or maybe just are too busy at a certain time frame. So, they may not be getting that message when they have this disease in the first place,” said Kaffenberger.

Patients who had higher fruit consumption reported less significant psoriasis. Researchers say that indicates fresh foods may be a protective factor. For Levin, lifestyle changes mean psoriasis no longer controls his life or his time outdoors with his good boy.

The Ohio State University study also reinforced earlier studies that found a family history of psoriasis, smoking and obesity could be predictors of the condition.

https://www.wmcactionnews5.com/2020/10/13/best-life-how-your-oral-health-can-prevent-psoriasis/

Improving dental health and diet could help with treatment for psoriasis

From dentistry.co.uk

Improving dental health and diet could help with the treatment for psoriasis, according to a study by American dermatologists.

Psoriasis is a skin disease that causes thick, itchy patches of red skin with silvery scales.
According to the NHS, psoriasis effects around 2% of people in the UK.
The skin disease usually starts in adults under 35 years old, and affects men and women equally.

The study found psoriasis patients who rated their gum health as poor or very poor exhibited significantly more severe psoriasis symptoms than those with healthy gums.
On the other hand, patients who reported consuming fresh fruit at least once a day experienced milder psoriasis symptoms.

The study was published in the Dermatology Online Journal.
Psoriasis is caused by a problem with the immune system.

Treatment for psoriasis

‘Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease so although it often presents as red, scaly patches on the skin,’ said Benjamin Kaffenberger, a dermatologist and study lead at the Ohio State Wexner Medical Centre.
‘We know that the causes and consequences are more than skin deep
‘We’re looking for some sort of trigger that sets off the immune system.
‘Because strep throat is one of the known triggers and the microbiome of bacteria in the mouth is much more complex, that became our starting point.
‘We wondered if poor dental health could be a risk factor for psoriasis.’

Research carried out

A lifestyle and diet questionnaire was sent to 265 patients at Ohio State’s dermatology clinics.
The study surveyed 100 patients with psoriasis and 165 without the disease.
It showed poor dental and oral health is associated with those who had psoriasis.

Kaffenberger explained: ‘Patients who had more severe psoriasis were more likely to report that their gums were in worse condition than patients who didn’t have mild to moderate psoriasis in the first place.
‘Patients who had higher fruit consumption reported less significant psoriasis.’
Therefore, fruit and potentially fresh foods are an associated protective factor.

The study also reinforced data from previous studies that found family history of psoriasis, smoking and obesity were significant predictors of psoriasis.
Kaffenberger hopes to expand the study outside Ohio State’s dermatology clinics.
He suggest having dermatologists screen for dental health and counsel psoriasis patients for improved dietary health.

‘The key is to protect your gums and your mouth by brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing.
‘Lifestyle changes include quitting smoking, avoiding high alcohol consumption and properly managing diabetes,’ he added.

https://www.dentistry.co.uk/2019/11/05/dental-health-diet-treatment-for-psoriasis/