Can brushing and flossing actually save your life? Researchers are asking that question as they learn more about the link between periodontal (gum) disease and heart disease.
Periodontal disease is caused by poor oral hygiene. By brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing once a day, you remove plaque, a sticky film of bacteria that forms on teeth. If you skip flossing or brushing, then the bacteria will irritate and inflame the gums, causing the gum tissue to pull away from the teeth and create pockets. More bacteria settle into these pockets, and if left untreated, can destroy the bone and tissue holding the teeth in place. Periodontal disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in Americans over the age of 35.
Now it’s been linked to heart disease, too. The bacterial byproducts from gum disease enter the bloodstream and trigger the liver to make a certain kind of protein that can inflame the arteries and cause blood clots that could clog the arteries, leading to heart attack and stroke, according to a study published in the Journal of Periodontology
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Researchers have found that people with gum disease are almost twice as likely to suffer from coronary artery disease as people without gum disease, according to the American Academy of Periodontology. Periodontal disease can also worsen existing heart conditions, researchers report. Patients who have had a cardiac procedure within the previous year and patients at risk of endocarditis, which is an infection of the inner lining of the heart, may require an antibiotic prior to dental procedures that cut the gum and allow bacteria to enter the bloodstream.
