Gateway Family Dental Blog
Can Your Dental Health Have an Impact On Your Heart?
For American Heart Month, we’re examining some of the surprising ways your oral health can have an impact on your cardiovascular health.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Stroke is the fifth-leading cause of death. So it’s safe to say that taking care of your heart will quite literally save your life. While we all know about the importance of a good diet and regular exercise in maintaining a healthy heart, few of us understand how important oral health is for the heart.
Today, we’re examining how the health of your teeth impacts your heart.
Periodontal Disease Is Linked to Heart Disease
While direct cause-and-effect hasn’t been established in scientific studies, periodontitis has been associated with heart disease
in a number of studies.
The link between the two conditions isn’t clear, but many researchers believe the key component is inflammation.
While acute inflammation is a positive physiological response to bodily trauma, chronic inflammation is a prolonged period (over 6 months) of increased immune system response and dilated blood vessels. This can have a severe effect on many of the body’s organ systems. Notably, it has been linked to atherosclerosis, a condition characterized by the buildup of plaque on the artery walls.
While a definitive link is not yet clear, the American Heart Association has acknowledged that poor oral health is linked to higher blood pressure, a key contributing factor to cardiovascular disease.
Gum Infection Is Linked to Endocarditis
For patients who are at high risk of developing endocarditis, good oral health can be a matter of life or death.
Endocarditis is an infection of the endocardium, the lining of the heart chambers and valves. It is caused by bacteremia (the presence of bacteria in the bloodstream). In patients who have damaged or abnormal heart valves, bacteremia can be deadly.
According to the Mayo Clinic, bacteremia can occur from daily dental maintenance, such as toothbrushing, when the gums are unhealthy. Unhealthy gums increase the likelihood of bacteria in the mouth making it into the bloodstream, where it can travel to the lining of the heart.
Complications of endocarditis include stroke, pulmonary embolism, seizure, and heart failure.
Because of the increased risk, dentists advise individuals to wait at least six months after a heart attack to undergo any dental procedures.
Regular Dental Visits May Help Identify Serious Illnesses
It’s common knowledge that keeping regular dentist appointments reduces your risk for gum inflammation, gingivitis and periodontal disease.
Less well known is the role your teeth play in your overall health.
For starters, issues with the teeth and gums can be early indicators of serious diseases. Mouth lesions are a common symptom of HIV, while diabetes can cause excessive glucose in the mouth, leading to an increase in plaque, bacteria and infection in the teeth and gums.
Regular trips to the dentist can also identify common oral symptoms associated with diabetes, such as decreased saliva production.
Good oral hygiene is a vital part of healthy living. Along with good nutrition and regular exercise, good oral care habits and regular dental cleanings can help you live a long, healthy life.
Gateway Family Dentistry is a leading provider of family dental care, sedation dentistry
and cosmetic dentistry
in Murfreesboro.
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