Heart Disease & Oral Health: What You Need to Know
Good oral health is closely linked to your overall well-being. Many people treat their mouth as a separate part of the body, but oral health impacts other systems, including the heart.
The Connection Between Oral Health and Heart Disease
Ignoring the relationship between oral health and general health increases your risk for various diseases, including heart disease. This month, we focus on how oral health relates to heart disease.
Heart disease remains the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. One in every four deaths results from heart disease. Periodontal disease affects nearly half of all adults, with over 70% of adults aged 65 and older experiencing it. But how are these two common conditions connected?
What the Research Shows
No study has proven that poor oral health directly causes heart disease. However, researchers have found a strong correlation between the two. One theory suggests that excess bacteria in the mouth play a role.
Your mouth contains more than 100 to 200 different types of bacteria at any given time. These bacteria number in the millions or billions. While most are harmless or even helpful, some cause disease. Disease-causing bacteria can enter the bloodstream and trigger inflammation in blood vessels, just as they do in the gums.
How Bacteria and Inflammation Affect the Heart
Bacteria in the blood vessels and heart can cause significant damage. The body’s natural inflammatory response may also harm tissues. When you develop gingivitis or periodontal disease, your body reacts with inflammation, which often leads to bleeding or swelling in the gums. This reaction does not stay confined to the mouth.
According to Harvard researchers, the body’s response to oral pathogens can “set off a cascade of vascular damage throughout the body, including the heart and brain.” The inflammatory response acts as a general reaction to pathogens, which can damage cells and tissues throughout your body.
Smoking: A Key Link
Smoking increases the risk of both poor oral health and heart disease. It may serve as a major link between the two. A 2018 study examined data from a million people who experienced various cardiovascular events. The study found a moderate correlation between tooth loss and coronary heart disease after accounting for age. However, when researchers adjusted for smoking, the correlation largely disappeared.
This finding suggests that smoking could be the missing piece in understanding the connection between oral and heart health. More research will help clarify this relationship.
What You Can Do
These two common diseases are clearly linked. Whether you need help quitting tobacco or want advice on oral hygiene tools, we can create a preventive treatment plan tailored to your needs.
Improving your oral health remains one of the best steps you can take for your overall health. We stay updated with the latest research and will share new findings as they become available.
Our top priority is to help you achieve the healthiest mouth possible. Thank you for trusting us with your oral health journey!