What is the link between gum disease and heart disease?
Given this evidence, the American Dental Association and American Heart Association have acknowledged the relationship between gum disease and heart disease. Gum disease may increase the risk of heart disease because inflammation in the gums and bacteria may eventually lead to narrowing of important arteries.
What is the connection between your mouth and your heart?
Oral health and heart disease are connected by the spread of bacteria – and other germs – from your mouth to other parts of your body through the bloodstream. When these bacteria reach the heart, they can attach themselves to any damaged area and cause inflammation.
Can rotten teeth cause heart problems?
Oral health issues like cavities and untreated tooth decay could lead to periodontal disease. A study by the Journal of the American Heart Association found that the inflammation caused by periodontal disease can lead to an increased risk of heart disease.
Why does gum disease affect the heart?
The bacteria that infect the gums and cause gingivitis and periodontitis also travel to blood vessels elsewhere in the body where they cause blood vessel inflammation and damage; tiny blood clots, heart attack and stroke may follow.
Can poor oral hygiene cause heart problems?
Cardiovascular Disease Having poor oral health puts a person at risk for heart disease. If the gums are inflamed due to the bacteria that causes periodontal disease, that same bacteria can actually get into the bloodstream causing the arteries to build up plaque and harden.
Why do dentists ask if you have heart problems?
Why It’s Important For a patient with a heart condition this bacteria poses the potentially dangerous risk of endocarditis, or inflammation of the heart valves or tissue. Because of this, for patients with cardiac issues, antibiotics are recommended prior to any dental visit, even routine cleanings.
What are the risk factors associated with poor oral hygiene?
Poor Oral Hygiene Leads to Negative Consequences
- Bone loss.
- Cancer.
- Inflammation of blood vessels.
- Hardened arteries.
- High blood pressure.
- Blood clots.
- Fertility problems.
Can bad oral hygiene cause heart problems?
What are the signs of poor oral hygiene?
Signs of Poor Oral Hygiene
- Tooth Pain. If you notice pain in your tooth, do not ignore it.
- Bleeding or Swollen Gums. Bleeding, swelling or alterations in gum color are signs that something is wrong with your oral hygiene.
- Alterations to the Tongue.
- Growths Within the Mouth.
- Deteriorating Gums.
How does oral bacteria affect the heart?
Researchers have uncovered oral bacteria in the fatty deposits of people with atherosclerosis, a disease in which plaque builds up in the arteries. Untreated, those deposits can narrow arteries or break loose and clog them, causing a heart attack or stroke.
Is heart disease linked to oral health?
Your oral health might contribute to various diseases and conditions, including: Endocarditis . Endocarditis is an infection of the inner lining of your heart (endocardium). Cardiovascular disease. Some research suggests that heart disease, clogged arteries and stroke might be linked to the inflammation and infections that oral bacteria can cause.
Is there a link between flossing and heart disease?
There is a direct link between flossing and the prevention of heart disease. Countless studies have proven that poor dental cleaning and a lack of flossing can lead to heart disease.
Is there a link between gum disease and heart health?
Dr. Ernest Meshack-Hart, Dental Director for Terry Reilly Health Services, says there’s a significant link between the two when it comes to your overall health. For heart disease specifically, that link comes in the form of gum disease. Gum disease is inflammation in the gums that can cause the breakdown of gum tissue, teeth, and bone tissue.
Is there a link between arthritis and your oral health?
The link between rheumatoid arthritis and oral health. If you suffer from rheumatoid arthritis (RA), your oral health is at risk. Both RA and gum disease are linked to severe inflammation, which is your body’s natural immune response to prevent foreign bodies like viruses and bacteria. Because RA is an autoimmune disease, inflammation is triggered despite there being no foreign bodies present.