Take Care of Your Mouth Take Care of Your Heart.

July 2010

If having a beautiful smile isn't enough to motivate you to brush and floss daily, consider this: Researchers have found people with periodontal (gum) disease are almost twice as likely to suffer from heart disease. Periodontal disease is specifically known to affect the coronary arteries, or blood vessels, in the heart.

"I've seen a startling connection amongst my own patients," said Dr. Travis Royce, Gentle Dental. "Those who I treat for periodontal disease often report heart problems including blood vessel damage and even increased risk for heart attacks."

According to the American Academy of Periodontology, one theory to explain the connection is that bacteria coming from inside the mouth enters the blood stream and attaches to fatty plagues in the coronary arteries. This contributes to clot formation, which obstructs blood flow, restricting the amount of nutrients and oxygen getting to the heart. This may lead to heart attack. The fatty proteins also contribute to coronary artery disease because they build up and thicken the walls of the arteries.

"Patients with periodontal disease have very swollen gums," says Dr. Royce. "The inflammation in the gums increases plaque build up, which may contribute to swelling of the arteries. This can be very dangerous."

A 2002 study published in the Journal of Periodontology confirms these findings. The study suggests periodontal disease may cause oral bacterial components to enter the bloodstream and trigger the liver to make C-reactive proteins, which are a predictor for increased risk for cardiovascular disease.

It's not just dentists studying this phenomenon. It's also troubling to cardiologists. A study in the Journal of the American Heart Association studied 657 people without known heart disease. The study found people who had higher blood levels of certain disease-causing bacteria in the mouth were more likely to have atherosclerosis in the carotid artery in the neck, which can lead to stroke.

This link is extremely serious because approximately 15 percent of adults between 21 and 50 years old have periodontal disease and 30 percent of adults over 50 have the disease.

Gingivitis is the mildest form of periodontal disease and it can progress to Periodontitis. The word periodontal literally means "around the tooth." Periodontal disease begins when the plaque on the teeth causes the gums to become inflamed. If left untreated it can lead to tooth loss and may need to be treated surgically.

"Proper hygiene at home is the key to preventing periodontal disease," says Dr. Royce. "It's the things we stress to our patients every day; brushing, flossing, rinsing and regular dental checkups are so important. Neglecting your mouth isn't worth the effect it has on your entire body."