Can Gum Disease Leave You With A Broken Heart?

By Dr. Nina Santos - Dental Designs of White Marsh
8114 Sandpiper Circle, Suite 210
White Marsh MD, 21236
P: 410-931-9400
http://www.dentaldesignsofwhitemarsh.com

The Heart & Mouth Connection

What so many people don’t realize, is that the mouth is the gate way to the body. Periodontal disease, the disease of the gums and bone supporting the teeth, affects 80% of American adults over the age of 18 and often times, remains undiagnosed.

Warning signs of periodontal disease include:

• Red, tender or swollen gums
• Bleeding gums while brushing or flossing
• Gums that seem to be pulling away from your teeth
• Chronic bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth
• Teeth that are loose or separating from each other

Research shows correlations between periodontal disease and many other diseases of the body, but more and more doctors today are focusing on the links between the health of your mouth and your heart. Just like poor oral health is commonplace around the world, so is heart disease. Is this link one hundred percent proven? It is difficult to say, but the data in the research shows a strong link with the health of the mouth as it relates to the function of your heart.

Atherosclerosis is a term that describes the hardening of the arteries of the heart. This condition makes it harder for the heart to pump blood to the body. The main cause of atherosclerosis is inflammation or swelling. This inflammation makes it difficult for the heart to pump blood, increasing your risk for heart attack and stroke.

How does this relate to your oral health? Swollen gum tissue, which can often be sore, is caused by inflammation. There are two main types of gum disease, first is gingivitis, which can cause tender gums that are red and painful and periodontitis, which is an infection of the tissue and bone surrounding the teeth. The infection of the tissue and bone in periodontitis, present themselves as deep pockets filled with bacteria around the teeth. Periodontitis is the type of gum disease that allows bacteria and toxins to spread below the gum line and into your blood stream. This is the type that will cause the issues we worry about when we talk about heart disease.

The gum tissue in your mouth contain thousands of blood vessels, and your mouth has millions of bacteria. By having inflammation or trauma in your gums, means that bacteria will enter your bloodstream. This will eventually lead to bacteria in other parts of your body, which can trigger inflammation. This type of inflammation can be very damaging, especially to the blood vessels in your heart.

Streptococcus sanguis, one of the major types of bacteria that causes periodontal disease, also plays a role in strokes, when spread to the heart. It has been found that oral bacteria and stroke go hand-in-hand. In patients with healthier oral cavities, there was less oral bacteria in the heart.

Not only are we looking at more bacteria accumulation in the arteries of the heart, but research also suggests that increased oral bacteria leads to thicker artery walls. When the walls of the carotid arteries are thickened, it makes it much more difficult for blood to flow to your brain; this is what causes a stroke. Reducing the long-term bacteria present in our mouths and body can lower the risk for heart disease.

But please remember, while your oral health plays a role in your heart health, we want to stress that your lifestyle choices remain a huge contributing factor to overall health. There is a link often found between severe periodontal disease and patients with overall bad health habits. These patients often do not take good care of their health, are generally smokers, do not exercise, may have diabetes, and may not eat well. All of these habits are strong predictors of heart disease. So it is important to take a look and examine your lifestyle habits. Are you setting yourself up for good heart health?

Be True to Your Heart

In the end, The American Heart Association states that, “there is no evidence that you can prevent heart disease by preventing gum disease.” But the correlation is strong with good overall healthy living and heart health. We want to stress the importance of receiving regular dental checkups that include dental x-rays. Just like anything else, we want to start treating any gum disease early, before it progresses to anything worse! Healthy mouth, healthy heart! So please, take some time to brush and floss a bit more often. Be true to your teeth, and they won’t be false to you, and maybe your heart will love it too!