Oral Health and Heart Health – What’s the Connection?
You may have heard there is a connection between the health of your teeth and gums and the health of your heart – but why? In this post, we’ll explore what is known about the connections between the two and share what you can do to help prevent problems.
There have been many studies to explore the connection between oral health and heart health. This study from Harvard Health states: “people with periodontal (gum) disease have two to three times the risk of having a heart attack, stroke, or other serious cardiovascular event”. Those are startling statistics, for sure. However, as the article points out, not everyone with gum disease will develop cardiovascular problems. That raises the question of whether oral health is an independent risk factor for heart disease, or is it just part of the equation? The answer is, we don’t really know.
Researchers at Harvard’s Forsyth Institute believe having gum disease increases inflammation in your body. We do know increased inflammation is likely linked to cardiovascular disease. So far, studies have not been able to establish a direct causative relationship between poor oral health and cardiovascular events. This is because most people with poor oral health also have other risk factors for poor heart health, making it difficult to know which of their individual risk factors directly caused their heart disease.
On February 8, 2023, the American Stroke Association (ASA) presented preliminary research at the International Stroke Conference. This research seems to indicate gum disease, missing teeth, or other oral health issues can increase stroke risk. Their analysis of the study showed the MRI reports for people with overall poor oral health showed more damage to the “fine architecture of the brain”, which can increase a person’s risk for stroke. The article states this research is intriguing but like other studies on the link between oral and cardiovascular health, does have some limitations. Thus, the ASA also recommends further research should be done to find out the exact link between the two conditions.
Bacteria from the mouth have been found in plaques found in people’s arteries, which points to the fact that the bacteria can travel from the mouth to other parts of our body. There is a condition called “endocarditis” which is a bacterial infection of the inner lining of the heart. Endocarditis can be caused by bacteria found in your mouth. Those at high risk for endocarditis or who have other serious heart conditions need to be particularly vigilant with their oral health. In some cases, a dentist may even have high-risk patients take a preventative dose of antibiotics before any sort of dental procedure. If you have a history of heart problems, make sure you share a thorough health history with your dentist. Always visit with your doctor to find out if you are someone who requires a course of antibiotics before a dental procedure.
There is enough evidence out there to show a likely correlation between our oral health and heart health. ASA study author Cyprien Rivier, M.D., M.S., a postdoctoral fellow in neurology at the Yale School of Medicine, recommends people pay close attention to their oral health. He said, “Studying oral health is especially important because poor oral health happens frequently and is an easily modifiable risk factor – everyone can effectively improve their oral health with minimal time and financial investment.” More studies need to be done to show whether poor oral health is a direct, standalone cause of problems with the heart or just one of a combination of risk factors that contribute to heart disease.
To help manage your risks, experts from Today’s Dental recommend professional dental care every six months, brushing at least twice a day, regular flossing of your teeth, and ensuring your dentures fit properly to keep bacteria from building up. Maintaining good oral health is a cost-effective way to manage one of the known risk factors for serious heart problems. If you have any questions about the link between oral health and cardiovascular health, feel free to reach out to your Today’s Dental office to learn more.
