Oral Health and Heart Awareness in February
Many people associate February with hearts and Valentine’s Day. In the medical/dental world, we focus on American Heart Awareness Month. We’ve often emphasized that oral health links to overall health. Most individuals treat their mouth separately from the rest of their body, not realizing that oral health significantly correlates with many other health issues.
The Prevalence of Heart Disease and Periodontal Disease
Heart disease leads as the primary cause of death for both men and women in the US. Estimates suggest that heart disease causes 1 in every 4 deaths. Periodontal disease affects nearly 50% of individuals, with over 70% prevalence in adults age 65 and older. So how do these two common diseases relate?
The Correlation Between Oral Health and Heart Disease
While no studies have PROVEN poor oral health causes heart disease, research shows a strong correlation between the two. Dental studies typically focus on bacteria. Our mouths contain 100-200 or more different strains of bacteria at any given time, amounting to millions or billions of bacteria living in our oral cavity.
Many bacteria are helpful or harmless, but some cause disease. Researchers have found these harmful bacteria in blood vessels, causing inflammation, just as they do in our gums.
Bacteria, Inflammation, and Heart Health: How They Connect
Bacteria cause problems for your heart and blood vessels, as does your body’s natural inflammatory response. When you suffer from gingivitis or periodontal disease, your body reacts with its usual inflammatory response. This reaction occurs throughout your entire body, not just in your mouth. The inflammatory response to oral pathogens “sets off a cascade of vascular damage throughout the body, including the heart and brain” (Harvard).
The Smoking Factor
Smoking presents another correlation between poor oral health and heart disease. Known as a risk factor for both diseases, smoking may link the two. A 2018 study analyzed data from a million people who had different cardiovascular events and found:
- Accounting for age, researchers found a moderate correlation between tooth loss and coronary heart disease (the most common type of heart disease).
- After accounting for smoking, the correlation largely disappeared.
We could conclude that smoking may be the missing piece of the mouth-to-heart puzzle, but more studies are needed for a definitive answer. Don’t forget to visit our Facebook!
Our Commitment to Your Oral Health
Whether the correlations are direct or coincidental, these two common diseases clearly link in some way. We’re here to help you improve your oral health. Whether you need help with tobacco cessation or a discussion on home care tips, we’ll tailor treatment and preventative plans to your specific needs.
We strive to stay up-to-date with the newest research and will share that information with you as more studies emerge on this topic. As always, our #1 goal is to help you achieve the healthiest mouth possible, and we thank you for trusting us on your journey to improved oral health!
Sources / References:
Colgate: https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/conditions/heart-disease/how-oral-health-and-heart-disease-are-connected-0115
Mayo Clinic: https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/expert-answers/heart-disease-prevention/faq-20057986
Harvard: https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/gum-disease-and-the-connection-to-heart-disease
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/facts.htm
Inflammatory responses and inflammation-associated diseases in organs: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5805548/