Can Gum Disease Affect Your Heart Health?
Research has indicated that gum disease can affect the health of your heart and other systems in your body. Gum disease has been linked to high blood pressure, diabetes, and even dementia. You may wonder what the health of your gums has to do with the rest of your body, but the fact is that everything in your body is connected–from your brain and your thoughts, to your mouth and your teeth and gums, to your heart, to your digestion to your muscles, bones, etc. Everything in your body is linked and the health of one system depends on the health of the others.
Studies Show…
We have always been taught that it is important to take care of our teeth, but most of us probably thought the major reason was to avoid dentures. Tooth loss is one reason to take care of your oral health, but there is another even more important reason and that is your overall health. According to research studies, people with unhealthy mouths have more heart attacks and an increased risk of stroke compared to those people with good oral health, specifically, healthy gums.
The Common Denominator
The same harmful oral bacteria that cause gum disease have been found in the brains of Alzheimer patients and in the arterial plaque of heart patients. That’s because your gums are vascular, which means every time you brush your teeth, the harmful oral bacteria on your teeth and gums can enter the bloodstream. When your body tries to fight the bacteria, it leads to inflammation.
Therefore, the common denominator is inflammation. When harmful fatty plaques buildup in the arteries that feed your heart, and the arteries in your neck and brain, it causes inflammation, and your blood vessels harden and narrow. White blood cells are also attracted to the area to fight these invaders, and as a result your blocked and inflamed arteries can starve your heart and brain of oxygen.