Most of us know taking care of our oral health can help prevent cavities and gum disease — but did you know it just might also help reduce your risk of heart disease? It’s true: Research shows oral health problems — specifically gum disease — can contribute to heart ailments, which means taking steps to keep your mouth healthy can help maintain your heart health, as well.
At Park Place Smiles, Minal Patel, DDS, understands the impact oral health problems can have on overall wellness and your heart health, specifically. Here, she explains why vigilant oral healthcare is essential for your oral health and your heart health, too.
Gum disease happens when bacteria collect along your gum line, the border between your teeth and your gum tissue. As these bacteria multiply, they release toxins that irritate your gum tissue, particularly where it attaches to your teeth.
Irritation causes gum tissue to move away from your teeth, creating pockets that, in turn, allow bacteria to migrate downward, sometimes all the way down to your root pocket. It also causes significant inflammation — the “side effect” of gum disease that leads to red, swollen, bleeding gums.
Heart disease is, obviously, different. There are many types of heart disease, including diseases that affect the heart valves, muscle tissue, and even the arteries that supply it with oxygen-rich blood.
Though these diseases vary widely, they appear to have a common link: the inflammation that plays a role in each condition.
In gum disease, the effects of inflammation are clearly visible in your red, bleeding gums. Heart disease can be harder to spot until it causes potentially serious complications, like arrhythmias or chest pain.
So how are they linked? Researchers believe the bacteria that cause gum disease enter the bloodstream when gums are swollen and bleeding, and those bacteria travel through your blood vessels until they reach the heart. Once there, inflammation can damage the heart’s muscle tissue and valves, interfering with the way your heart works and putting extra strain on your heart.
Inflammation also significantly increases the risk of atherosclerosis (“hardening” of the arteries), a condition that happens when sticky plaques cling to artery walls, making them narrower and stiffer. In fact, atherosclerosis is a leading cause of heart disease, specifically coronary artery disease (CAD), the most common type of heart disease.
The link between gum disease and heart disease isn’t just one way, though. Research also shows that people who have periodontitis are also more likely to have heart disease. Startingly, women and men with gum disease have about three times the risk of having a heart attack or other cardiovascular event.
On the other hand, studies using tissue obtained from people with atherosclerosis have confirmed the presence of the same bacteria found in gum disease, underscoring the bacteria’s ability to travel to other areas of the body, including the arteries and heart.
The data may be alarming, but there’s definitely some good news: Research shows managing and treating gum disease has a beneficial effect in managing and preventing heart disease, especially atherosclerosis-related heart problems, like CAD.
Fortunately, gum disease can be treated and even prevented. The key is to brush and floss at home using the right techniques, and have professional dental cleanings twice each year. These activities help remove plaque and tartar buildup, reducing bacteria and preventing damaging inflammation.
Regular dental checkups don’t just help your smile — they help your heart health and overall wellness, too. To schedule your next cleaning and exam, request an appointment with Park Place Smiles in Glendora, California, today.
