Relationship between Dental Health and Gums with Heart Health

Relationship between Dental Health and Gums with Heart Health. Don't underestimate dental health. Caring for teeth and gums can bring benefits not only for oral health, but also for heart health and overall body health.

Medical experts have long examined the relationship between dental health and the health of other organs. Disorders that occur in teeth and gums are known to cause a variety of other more serious diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, dementia, pregnancy disorders, and strokes. 

Relationship between Dental Health and Gums with Heart Health

Several studies related to the relationship of gum disease with heart health revealed that:

• Gum disease is a risk factor for coronary heart disease.
• People who have fewer teeth and experience more gum pain are at a higher risk of having a stroke.
• There is a relationship between blockage of the arteries in the legs and gum disease.

However, various other studies have found the opposite, so further research is needed to confirm this relationship.

How Do Disorders in Gums Harm the Heart?

Although experts have not found a direct link between toothache and gum disease with heart health, there are a number of things that are the reason why the two possibilities are related. One reason is inflammation, which is found in gingivitis (the early stages of gum disease) and also in atherosclerosis (the narrowing of the arteries). Inflammatory processes that occur in gum disease will then also trigger blood vessel blockages that can affect heart performance.

Gum pain is mainly caused by bacteria, due to the buildup of plaque which initially looks harmless. But in some people who are more vulnerable, the body can overreact to bacteria and cause inflammation that does not completely subside. The process of inflammation slowly and in the long run is thought to cause interference with the heart and brain blood vessels.

The second reason that underlies the possibility of a link between toothache and gum with heart health is the similarity of the type of bacteria. The bacteria found in gum disease are also found in blood vessels that experience atherosclerosis.

Read more: Pope Francis Kissed, This Brain Brain Tumor Cured

There are two main types of gum disorders:

• Gingivitis: Inflammation of the gums, where the gums are painful, swollen, and reddened.
• Periodintitis: The formation of pus-filled sacs near the root of the tooth, due to bacterial infection. This type is feared to be at risk of causing heart problems because bacteria and toxins can spread to other limbs. This can happen because the gums contain lots of blood vessels that can drain bacteria to other limbs.

Many periodontal disorders suffer from diabetes and undergo an unhealthy lifestyle, which is a risk factor for heart disease. Therefore, patients who experience moderate to severe gum disease, smokers, and suffer from high blood pressure, are advised to have a heart examination.