Fact or fiction: unhealthy gums increase the risk of coronary artery disease, hardened arteries, and weakened heart muscle. You might be tempted to dismiss this as fiction! After all, it seems like a stretch, doesn’t it? What could your gums have to do with your heart?

Surprisingly, the research is clear: people who don’t take care of their gums are more likely to suffer from cardiovascular issues than those who do. Experts and researchers still aren’t entirely sure why this is. However, study after study has shown that a connection between gum disease and heart health does exist.

Gum disease in its various forms may contribute to developing heart disease later on. This can include coronary artery disease, hardening of the arteries, and weakening heart muscles. The best method of prevention is maintaining a disciplined oral health routine that includes both brushing and flossing and keeping regular appointments with our dentists.

The Connection Between Gum Disease and Heart Health 

Experts admit that they can’t clearly define the connection between gum disease and heart health. Yet consistent correlation leads us to believe that that connection, however little we may understand it, does indeed exist. Correlation is certainly not the same as causation, but the lack of a definite explanation doesn’t mean we can simply discard the continual linkage of these two forms of disease.

There are theories (some more worthy than others) that seek to explain the connection. One of the strongest is that bacteria from gum disease makes its way into the bloodstream, eventually causing inflammation of the blood vessels and resulting in a stroke. As cardiologist Ann Bolger explained, “Gum disease is one of the diseases “where the body may be in a sort of continual state of inflammation, and this seems to be a very powerful predictor of cardiovascular disease….” This explanation has gained a lot of traction since oral bacteria has been found in blood vessels far away from the heart. 

Alternative theories

It’s also possible that there is no traceable medical connection. Instead, the frequency with which these diseases seem to be found together may be caused by factors in people’s circumstances or environment that induce both gum disease and poor heart health. For instance, smoking is known to cause both gum disease and heart problems. This could at least partially explain the linkage. Other factors may include:

• Not getting enough exercise
• Difficulty accessing adequate healthcare
• Lack of insurance

This theory is supported by a 2018 study which found that, despite a correlation between heart disease and tooth loss, there was little connection when smoking was taken into account. 

Despite these findings, many other studies have found a connection between heart health and gum health. What’s probably most important to remember is that oral health is an indicator of overall health. While a person may seem in tip-top shape, poor oral health may point to the fact that they’re not nearly as healthy as they appear to be.

What Is Gum Disease?

Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease or periodontitis, is caused by bacteria that grow in your mouth.

It begins in its early stages as gingivitis, which is a type of gum inflammation. At this stage, the buildup of bacteria and plaque on your teeth causes the gums to become sore and inflamed. It is often accompanied by bleeding when you brush and floss. At this point, the gum disease can still be reversed at this point with proper oral hygiene and regular dental appointments.

The real problems start when gingivitis is left untreated and develops into periodontitis. At this stage, the gums begin to pull away from the teeth, causing pockets to form. Bacteria and debris collect in the pockets, inviting infection. Once an infection has set in, the disease begins to eat away at the gum tissue and bone that hold your teeth in place. The teeth might become loose or even fall out! 

Periodontitis is actually the leading cause of missing teeth for adults between the ages of 20 and 39 missing one tooth. This only gets worse as people get older, with those between 40 and 49 years of age missing 3.5 teeth on average, and people over the age of 60 missing eight teeth on average due to the disease.   

What Is Heart Disease?

‘Heart disease’ is simply an umbrella term used for multiple conditions that affect the heart. It includes:

• Coronary artery disease (CAD)
• Hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis)
• Weakening heart muscles (cardiomyopathy)

If you aren’t familiar with the concepts or taking steps to protect your heart, it’s worth considering. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that “Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men, women, and people of most racial and ethnic groups in the United States.” According to the CDC, one in every five deaths in the U.S. is due to heart disease. Nearly half of Americans are at risk and the statistics are only growing. The prevalence of heart disease is alarming. While maintaining good oral hygiene isn’t a silver bullet, it’s a step in the right direction in caring for your oral health as well as your overall health.

Protect Your Heart by Caring for Your Teeth

It’s not just heart disease that will compromise your health if you don’t take care of your teeth. Harmful bacteria can lead to other health problems such as oral cancer, pneumonia, and complications with pregnancy or birth. Fortunately, protecting your teeth and overall health is much easier than you may think. All it takes is following the basics of oral hygiene:

• Brushing your teeth for two minutes, twice a day
• Flossing at least once a day after eating
• Regular appointments with our dentists

Flossing gets easily brushed aside—no pun intended—but it shouldn’t. It’s remarkably important. Flossing works to protect your gums from bacteria by cleaning the areas between your teeth that your brush can’t reach. That’s not to say that brushing doesn’t matter. Recent research has shown that brushing for the right amount of time can be just as important as flossing. This research found that people who brushed less than two minutes, twice per day, were three times more likely to develop heart disease than those who do! While the study has its limits, data like this reinforces the fact that you need a complete oral hygiene regimen in order to maximize benefits and truly protect your teeth.

The Key Takeaway

Though experts can’t fully define the “why”, it seems safe to say that protecting your teeth will also, in turn, protect your heart. Given the significant threat that heart disease poses to Americans, protecting your heart is a smart choice. Multiple studies have yielded proof that there is some link between oral health and heart health—we would be wise to heed that warning. To avoid gum disease and the heart disease that it could potentially lead to, make sure that you’re brushing, flossing, and keeping up with your dental appointments. If you’re concerned that your oral health may be affecting your heart health, contact us today, and we can schedule your next appointment. We would be happy to see you.