Objective: Periodontitis increases the serum lipopolysaccharide level, contributing to liver injury. Toothbrushing improves periodontitis and may also affect serum lipopolysaccharide concentration and periodontitis-induced liver injury. The purpose of the present study was to examine whether the improvement in periodontal inflammation by toothbrushing clinically affects the serum lipopolysaccharide level and hepatic pathological changes in rat periodontitis.
Material and methods: Thirty male Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups, 2 groups receiving topical application of pyrogen-free water to the gingival sulcus for 4 or 8 weeks. The next 2 groups received topical application of lipopolysaccharide and proteases for 4 or 8 weeks. The last group received topical application of lipopolysaccharide and proteases for 8 weeks, and the palatal gingiva was brushed with a powered toothbrush once a day for 4 weeks prior to the end of the experimental period.
Results: Topical application of lipopolysaccharide and proteases induced not only periodontal inflammation but also an elevation in the serum lipopolysaccharide concentration, with increasing hepatic inflammation, steatosis and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine levels in a time-dependent manner. The rats that received gingival stimulation showed decreased polymorphonuclear leukocyte infiltration and collagen loss levels in the periodontal lesions. Furthermore, this group also showed a decrease in serum lipopolysaccharide concentration and hepatic inflammation, steatosis and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine levels, compared with the group receiving no treatment.
Conclusions: Toothbrushing promoted healing of periodontal lesions, decreased serum lipopolysaccharide concentration and suppressed liver injury in a rat periodontitis model.