Heart Disease

Periodontitis or gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults.  It is estimated that approximately three-fourths of adults over the age of 35 have some form of gum disease.

But periodontitis may be responsible for more than the loss of teeth – it may be responsible for a loss of life!

Can periodontitis cause heart disease?

Research scientists have been investigating the correlation between gum disease and heart disease and have come up with some alarming facts.  The Veteran’s Administration Informative Aging Study, conducted in Boston, followed the health patterns of 1,231 men who were classified as “healthy” when given dental exams in the 1960’s.  As the study followed these men over the next three decades, the men who started out with “bad gums” have experienced about twice the death rate as those without, especially from heart disease.

Another study from Marshfield Medical Research Foundation in Wisconsin analyzed the health of 9,760 people surveyed in the early 1970s.  By 1987, heart disease was 25% more common in those who had gum disease at the outset.  Men under 50 at the start of the study had about a 75% greater risk of heart disease.

These studies suggest that periodontal disease could be as strong a risk factor for heart attack as smoking!

Heart Healthy CoupleThe bacteria that causes periodontitis creates a toxin or poison that causes an infection in the gums and bone.  The large number of bacteria present in active periodontitis allows some of that bacteria and their inflammatory toxins to enter the bloodstream, infecting other parts of the body.

In the arteries the bacteria can inflame the plaque lining the artery walls triggering the immune system.  The immune cells sent to attack the bacteria can produce a sticky adhesive to attach to the bacteria.  In the process they can clump together along the walls of the artery eventually causing atherosclerosis or blood clots which can cause stroke or even heart attack.

How do I prevent the possible affects of heart disease from periodontal disease?

The remedy for reducing the possibility of heart disease caused by periodontitis is the same remedy for maintaining a healthy smile:

  • Brush your teeth at least twice a day to remove plaque and limiting bacteria growth using a fluoride toothpaste.
  • Floss your teeth at least once a day to remove the food particles and plaque between teeth.
  • Visit our office twice a year (each six months) for professional hygiene cleaning and a thorough dental exam to catch potential dental problems before they become extensive and expensive to correct.
  • Cut down on sugary or refined snacks or drinks so the sweet-toothed bacteria have less to feed on.

If you have any questions regarding your dental health and how it can affect or be affected by your overall health, please call Lindy, our scheduling coordinator, for a visit or click here to request an appointment.  We want you and each of our patients to enjoy a lifetime of dental health so you can truly discover “The Power of your Smile”.