Could it be a myth or a fact that poor oral hygiene is linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease?
It’s normal and healthy to have bacteria in the mouth.
The bacteria in the mouth form the normal flora essential to maintaining the mouth’s physiology.
However, the “good bacteria” in the mouth can pose a health hazard if proper oral hygiene isn’t maintained.
For decades, scientists and researchers have studied the link between gum disease and heart disease, such as atherosclerosis.
This article will discover the relationship between oral hygiene and cardiovascular health and how to keep your mouth healthy.
“It’s been estimated that the average human body contains about 30 trillion human cells, but the 38 trillion bacteria in us outnumber these.”
What Is Gum Disease?
Gum disease is a bacterial infection that occurs when bacteria build up around and below the gums.
This can cause inflammation and damage to the teeth and surrounding bones, leading to tooth loss if not treated.
It worsens over time, progressing from gingivitis to periodontal disease and advanced periodontal disease.
When gum disease isn’t treated correctly, it can cause more problems with overall health, especially cardiovascular health.
What is The Connection Between Gum Disease And Heart Disease?
“Research has discovered that about 700 different species of bacteria live in our mouths.”
What The Research Says
Research indicates that individuals with gum disease are two to three times more likely to experience a heart attack, stroke, or other serious cardiovascular events.
A research carried out by Dr Hijazi, a BHF-funded researcher investigating the links between mouth bacteria, gum disease and heart attacks, recently did a study of 160 people admitted to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary with a heart attack and discovered that about two-thirds of them had severe gum infection.
The researchers found that people with higher levels of P gingivalis (known to be involved in the development of gum disease but has also been linked to coronary artery disease and heart attacks) in their mouths tended to have more damage to their heart (based on the amount of the protein troponin in their blood) and fatty build-up in their coronary arteries.
Another study in 2018 looked into the connection between gum health and coronary heart disease.
It involved a cohort study of one million people.
The results showed a positive possible link between gum disease and an increased risk of coronary heart disease.
However, confounding factors, such as cigarette smoking, might explain this.
This suggests that the link might be more complex than previously thought.
Theories supporting the link between gum disease and heart disease can be simply defined with the following theoretical explanations:
- Gum disease bacteria can enter the bloodstream and cause damage (inflammation) to blood vessels, leading to heart attack and stroke. The discovery of remnants of oral bacteria within damaged blood vessels far from the mouth supports these claims. However, antibiotic treatment hasn’t proven effective at reducing heart disease, even though it is often used to treat gum disease.
- Rather than bacteria causing the problem, the immune system sets off a chain reaction of vascular damage (inflammation is the body’s natural response to infection) throughout the body, including the heart and brain.
- There may be no direct connection between gum disease and cardiovascular disease; the reason they may occur together is that there is a 3rd factor (such as smoking) that’s a risk factor for both conditions.
Recent studies may not be enough to establish a strong connection between poor oral health and cardiovascular disease (the association-causation theory).
There still needs to be plenty of research to cement these theories further.
However, it does not negate that several other studies have found solid relationships between poor oral health and cardiovascular diseases.
Prevention Of Gum Disease
Keeping your teeth healthy and preventing gum disease is achievable when you take the following steps.
- Brushing your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste: Always use fluoride-containing toothpaste to brush your teeth. Fluoride prevents tooth decay; however, ingesting fluoride is not good. Dentists advise using a pea-sized amount of toothpaste to prevent fluoride ingestion. It is advisable to brush twice daily, before or after breakfast and last thing before bedtime.
- Flossing regularly to remove plaque between teeth: Plaque is a community of microorganisms on the teeth’ surfaces. Trapping of dietary contents precedes the formation of plaque. Rather than using sharp objects to remove the food particles, use dental floss to prevent damage to the gum.
- Visiting the dentist routinely for a check-up and professional cleaning: Dentists advise a bi-annual visit for professional cleaning and even more frequent visits for people prone to tooth decay.
- Avoid smoking: Smoking weakens your immune system and reduces the ability to fight infections. This study explains the link between smoking and gum disease.
“Overall, PD seems to be associated with no more than a modest increase (~20%) in cardiovascular risk in the general population.”
(Dhadse et al., 2010).
Finally
The current evidence suggests a potential connection between gum disease and heart disease.
However, more research is needed to solidify this relationship and explore the underlying causes (association is not the same as causation).
Ongoing research keeps us informed and aware of the latest developments in this new area of health research.
Talking about the connection between poor oral health and cardiovascular disease. There have also been studies that detected a connection between poor oral health and rheumatoid arthritis and pancreatic cancer and respiratory disease.
The bottom line is that establishing a consistent oral care routine is crucial for maintaining not only a healthy mouth but also promoting your overall well-being.
Regular brushing, flossing, and dental check-ups are essential practices that can prevent dental issues, freshen your breath, and keep you healthy.
Selected References
- British Heart Foundation. (n.d.). Gum disease heart health. British Heart Foundation. https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/research/gum-disease-heart-health.
- Dhadse, P., Gattani, D., & Mishra, R. (2010). The link between periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease: How far we have come in last two decades ? Journal of Indian Society of Periodontology, 14(3), 148. https://doi.org/10.4103/0972-124x.75908.
- Duggal, N. (2020, August 6). Does gum disease increase risk of heart disease? Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/gum-disease-and-heart-disease.
- Harvard Health. (2021, February 15). Gum disease and heart disease: The common thread. https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/gum-disease-and-heart-disease-the-common-thread.
- Shmerling, R. H., MD. (2024, October 8). Gum disease and the connection to heart disease. Harvard Health. https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/gum-disease-and-the-connection-to-heart-disease.
