At first glance it sounds very strange when reading the title "Relationship between gum disease and heart disease"To think that somehow the heart may be connected to the gums or the mouth, but the reality is that it is!
Research indicates that chronic gum disease can contribute to the development of heart conditions, being the leading cause of death in both men and women in the United States.
Getting into the subject a bit, periodontitis is a bacterial disease that affects the periodontium (the tissue that supports the teeth and includes the gum and alveolar bone). It usually begins with inflammation and bleeding in the gums caused by a build-up of bacterial plaque. If not treated in time, the infection can spread to the tissue and bone that support the teeth, thus causing the loss of teeth.
This gum disease is basically a bacterial infection that can affect other conditions outside the mouth.
And well, how do these bacteria or this problem get from the mouth to the heart? One theory is that gum disease can cause bacteria to enter and travel through the bloodstream where they adhere to fatty deposits in the vessels of the heart.
Scientists from the University of Granada (UGR) published an investigation in Journal of Dental Research managed to demonstrate the severity of chronic periodontitis is related to acute myocardial infarction.
This research, which is the result of the doctoral thesis of Rafael Martín Marfil Alvarez. 112 patients who had suffered acute myocardial infarction were analyzed. All of them underwent a cardiological, biochemical and periodontal health assessment.
According to the results shown in the research, "chronic periodontitis is configured as a risk factor for mortality and plays an important role in the prognosis of acute myocardial infarction".
According to American Association of Periodontology (AAP), you can develop gum disease if any of the following conditions are true:
We have reached a very important point, now it is not only about dental or oral care, it is about the relationship with heart conditions. Regular dental exams and good oral hygiene may be the best way to protect against gum disease. The recommendations that we constantly make to patients are very important, to brush their teeth at least twice a day with a soft bristle brush (as the case may be), to use a toothpaste accepted by the American Dental Association ADA or some other regulatory entity, flossing daily and visiting your trusted dentist for regular check-ups.
Now, it does not mean that by having good oral health we are exempt from heart disease, but based on the findings found in the studies, it is a very good way to avoid setbacks that can cause us more than scares.
A good idea is to make sure your dentist is aware that you have a heart problem and to report your full medical history, including any medications you are currently taking.
Follow all the instructions that your doctor tells you about the care you should take, including about the use of prescription drugs, such as antibiotics, as indicated.
Some of the information is courtesy of the Academy of Dentistry General. Third National Health and Nutrition Assessment Survey (NHANES III). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.