The large variety of organisms inhabiting in the mouth of people was the streptococcus family which, through thousands of bacteriologic tests, Dr. Price found to be mainly mainly involved in infections of the teeth and gums. He discovered that out of the 10 varieties of streps involved in mouth infections, the "fecalis" streptococcus was presented in 65 1/2 percent of the cases tested. Though streptococcus predominated, it was oftenaccompanied by fellow organisms, such as those of the staphlococcus, spirochete or protoza families.

One of these species of microscopic travelers in our bloodstream would find some organ or tissue of the body an ideal place to set up housekeeping. The sexual proclivity, by which they divide and multiply, allows them to dominate the world in which they reside and makes for some severe illness situations.

The Price studies weren't able to disclose the extent to which spirochete forms enter the human body and are involved in dental infections, but his group's research led them to believe these organisms do so more often than was, or is, realized.

Though systemic involvement in laboratory animals from spirochetes was a rare occurrence, a huge tumor-like mass on a rabbit's knee and a large abscess in the thigh of another rabbait - both of which were produced by the introduction of an almost pure culture of spirochetes - are easily seen in the root canal microscope slide pictures made by Dr. Price. Incidentally, the infections in these rabbits occurred after inoculations with organisms taken from a pyorrhea pus pocket of a patient suffering from an unusual type of neutritis.

The influence of spirochete infections upon the health of peple can be both severe and rapid. Thorough medical scrutiny failed to disclose why a man lost 18 pounds in weight in three weeks. Oral examination, however, disclosed a chronic case of Vincent's infection, today often called acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis. With prompt dental treatment, the patient gained back 10 pounds in two weeks.

This infection is commonly called trench mouth bacause so many American soldiers in the trenches of France during World War I developed the disease. I can testify that the rates of cases were also high in the Air Force bases in this country during World War II.

Its cause is known to result from the joint action of a spindle- shaped germ tapered at both ends, the fusiform baccilli, and a spirochete. Both of these orgnisms are generally present in most mouths, but become pathogenic when a person becomes debilitated, nutritionally compromised, or badly neglects the care of his or her mouth. It is now known that diet and nutrition play a big role in its inception. The B complex vitamins, niacinamide, vitamin C, and minerals have an active place both in treatment and prevention.

Current research reports in both the New England Journal of Medicine, August 22, 1991, and Lancet, November 9,1991, disclosed that the spirochetes involved in trench mouth are from the treponema pallidum family and,although these spirochetes are cousins to those which cause syphilis,there is no reason to conclude that any form of gum disease is related to that sexual disease. When the syphilis infection is present, its particular spirochetes do show up in the mouth, but effects are entirely different from those of Vincent's infection.

In understanding this dichotomy it would be well to know that ten treponema spirochete species have been detected in periodontal gum infections, and the exact one or combination has not been fully ascertained. In fact, some investigators feel these organisms may simply be opportunists which enjoy traveling with the fusiform bacillus.

Copyright (c) 2007 Sung Lee, and George Meinig D.D.S