Gum Disease and Heart Health: Investigating the link

About two-thirds of people over 65 years have gum disease-typically known as periodontal disease. It begins when the plate, a sticky membrane of bacteria and food, is built around the teeth. At its earlier stage, gingivitis, irritated gums can bleed easily. The starting point that has not been treated, periodontal disease can worsen and, in its most serious form, cause tooth to relax and fall out.

Compared to people with healthy gums, people with periodontal disease are about twice as likely to have a heart attack. The shared risk factors – including smoking, an unhealthy diet or lack of access to health and dental care – can explain some of these Union. However, certain bacterial and viral infections also appear to increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. And the growing elements suggest that bacteria and inflammation may form the basis of the relationship between the mouth and the heart.

“Your mouth is a gate for the rest of your body, so it is not surprising that your oral health can affect your overall health and vice versa,” says Dr. Tien Jiang, a prosthetic to the Harvard Health and Epidemiology Department School of Dentistry.

Hundreds of different types of bacteria appear naturally in the mouth. Some are powered by sugars, release acids that break down the outer layer of your teeth, causing cavities. Other types of bacteria form plaque that – if not removed with normal brushing and yarn – hardens in Tatar, explains Dr. Jiang. Only one professional dental cleaning can remove these harsh, calcified deposits.

Bacteria on the go?

Bacteria responsible for periodontal disease can travel to blood vessels throughout the body. In fact, periodontal bacteria have been found in adipose debris (atherosclerosis) that arteries that are far from the mouth – and from blood clots by people who have experienced heart attacks.

“In both gum diseases and heart disease, we find bacteria in places where they should not be,” says Dr. Jiang. The body’s immune response to these bad bacteria causes a burst of white blood cells. The resulting inflammation can lead to tiny clots and cause a heart attack or stroke.

In addition, many factors associated with a higher risk of heart disease – diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and obesity – are all more common in people with periodontal disease, according to a 2021 revision article on oral health and cardiovascular disease American Journal of Prevents Cardiology.

One way to treat periodontal disease is for dentists and healthy to use manual scalables or ultrasound devices to remove the tartar above and below the gum line. Known as escalation and root, this deep cleaning is more extensive than cleaning twice a year they usually get to the dentist. However, while treatment of periodontal disease can help reduce inflammatory levels in the bloodstream, there are limited elements that can reduce heart attacks or other cardiovascular problems.

Prevention of periodontal disease

To avoid gum disease, daily brushing and yarn is essential – and can even reverse gingivitis before it worsens. If you have relaxed in your thread, you may notice a little bleeding when you start again, says Dr. Jiang. When that happens, some people become nervous and stop the thread. But don’t worry. Just go back to the habit and the chances are that bleeding will improve within a few days, he advises. If you do not happen and notice other signs of gum disease (see box), schedule an appointment with your dentist.

A healthy diet can also help, says Dr. Jiang. Most people know that hard or chewed caramel and other sticky sweets promote the cavities. But sugar drinks such as sodes (especially if you drink them throughout the day) also supply bacteria that cause cavities and gum disease. “This is also true for refined carbohydrates that stick to your teeth, such as crackers and breads made with white flour,” says Dr. Jiang. In addition, a sugary diet is associated with the highest risk of heart disease. For more information on dental health, see Special Health Report by Harvard Health Publishing, Dental health for adults (/Dh).

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