Gum disease may raise the risk of heart disease, according to a new scientific statement from the American Heart Association. After reviewing past research, experts found that people with more severe gum disease tend to have higher rates of heart attacks, strokes, heart failure, irregular heart rhythms, and peripheral artery disease. The connection appears to involve chronic inflammation and bacteria entering the bloodstream from the mouth.
Gum disease starts when plaque and bacteria build up around the teeth and gums, causing long-term inflammation. Inflamed gums can allow bacteria to leak into the bloodstream, where they may contribute to inflammation in blood vessels. This process is linked to atherosclerosis, a condition in which fatty plaques narrow arteries and increase the risk of serious heart problems.
Researchers note that gum disease and heart disease share many risk factors, such as smoking, diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure, making it hard to prove one directly causes the other. While treating gum disease has not yet been shown to prevent heart disease, experts agree that good oral hygiene helps lower inflammation overall. More long-term studies are needed to determine whether improving gum health directly protects the heart.
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