What do dental disease and stomach ulcers have in common?
Both are caused in large part by specific bacteria. In fact, the types of bacteria that cause both diseases are quite similar. They are gram negative (excuse the scientific term) and require little or no oxygen. On the other hand, the majority of bacteria in a healthy mouth are gram positive and require oxygen to produce energy. Bacterial involvement in stomach ulcers has not been recognized for a long time. The cause used to be thought of as an over production of stomach acid and most remedies were focused on controlling acid production. Australian physician, Dr. Barry Marshall tried for 10 years through the 1980’s to convince the establishment that the bacteria known as H. Pylori, was the cause of stomach ulcers and gastritis (stomach inflammation). Eventually, he even drank a beaker of H. pylori bacteria to give himself gastritis to prove it was the cause. By the mid-nineties, beliefs were changing and Dr. Marshall was awarded a Nobel Prize for his contribution in 2005. Nowadays, an
