The Cardiac–Oral Health Connection

Recent studies have shown that people with poor oral health have a higher chance of cardiovascular problems like heart disease or stroke than people with good oral health.

Why Would Cardiac Diseases and Oral Health be Connected?

There are several theories proposed to show the connection between cardiovascular diseases and poor oral health:

The bacteria that cause gingivitis and periodontitis travel to blood vessels present elsewhere in the body where they cause blood vessel inflammation and damage. Tiny blood clots and heart attacks may follow. Antibiotic treatments have not been proven as effective for cardiovascular diseases.
The body’s immune response, which is inflammation, sets off a torrent of vascular damage throughout your body, which includes your heart and brain.
There might be no direct connection between poor oral health and cardiovascular diseases. The reason why they occur together may be due to a third factor: smoking, which is a risk factor for both conditions. People who do not take care of their oral health are more prone to cardiovascular diseases.

What We Know So Far

Researchers analyzed data from over a million people who had experienced more than 65,000 cardiovascular events, including heart attack, and found that:

There was a moderate connection between tooth loss and coronary heart disease.
Gum diseases like periodontitis are associated with an increased chance of cardiovascular diseases.
The risk of a bacterial infection in the bloodstream increases if your oral health is poor. The chance increases especially if you have artificial heart valves.
The patterns of tooth loss are connected to coronary artery disease.
There is a robust connection between cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Evidence has been found that diabetic people benefit from periodontal treatment.

What Can We Do?

Although oral health is not a key factor to preventing cardiovascular diseases, it is essential to take care of your teeth and gums:

Brush your teeth and floss daily.
Schedule regular appointments with your dentist.
If you are concerned about preventing heart diseases, ask your doctor about any proven ways to prevent cardiovascular diseases.

Visit Manteca Dental Care at 1007 S Main St, Manteca, CA 95337 for professional dental treatment. Contact us at (209) 823-9218 or schedule an appointment online to visit us during our business hours.