The Link Between Gum Disease and Heart Disease

Who knew gum disease could cause so many other health issues? Studies have linked gum disease to heart disease. It’s hard to believe because it seems so unrelated, doesn’t it?

When you have bacteria in the mouth it can enter the bloodstream through bleeding gums and travel to your heart. Your gums are full of blood vessels and bacteria. Once the bacteria from your mouth enters the bloodstream it can go anywhere in the body. Inflammation seems to be a link between periodontal disease and heart disease. Inflammation is a sign of gum disease and also causes hardened arteries which make it hard for blood to flow to your heart. If blood is not flowing to your heart properly it puts you at greater risk for having a heart attack or stroke.

This post is not intended to scare you, but rather bring awareness to the effects of periodontal disease if it goes untreated. Regular dental check-ups are the key to early detection of periodontal disease, which then can be treated and controlled. We now know that good oral health is an important part of overall body wellness. If you are having a cleaning and exam done every 6 months your dentist can detect periodontal disease early and treat it accordingly.