3 ms·

Gingivitis is associated with heart disease. Is it possible alcohol could just be killing bacteria enough to reduce the effect? Instead of taking up alcohol,

• Scoundreller 12y ago
  Associations don't imply causations. We don't know if gingivitis causes heart disease, nor do we know if heart disease causes gingivitis. Or maybe each has a minimal direct effect on the other (I'd never say none at all). Likely, individuals that have/do things that prevent gingivitis, like affording a dentist, also have/do things that prevent heart disease, like affording blood pressure medications.
  • vixin 12y ago
    'Is it possible alcohol could just be killing bacteria enough to reduce the effect?' Answer: 'yes it is possible'. The strawman of 'association and causation' is introduced by you. Congratulations on knocking it down!
• a8da6b0c91d 12y ago
  Rat experiments show that adding a small amount of alcohol to their drinking water makes them live longer. The reason is thought to be the alcohol helps kill off undesirable gut bacteria, which produce LPS endotoxins. Rats on antibiotics also live longer for the same reason. I don't think gingivitis is caused by bacteria per se. Cavities and gingivitis manifest as a consequence of lousy overall health and problems such as mineral deficiencies, not a lack of listerine. The phrase "look a gift horse in the mouth" exists because lousy teeth indicate a bunch of other health problems. It's not about horse oral hygiene.
  • trentmb 12y ago
    Did it negatively impact their digestion at all (killing the useful gut flora)? Did they have chronic 'beer shits?'