Oral Health and Heart Disease

Oral infections and cardiovascular disease are interconnected. The bacteria that cause gingivitis can travel to other parts of the body. These bacteria can then cause things like inflammation in blood vessels, heart attacks, and blood clots.[2]

Bad Oral Habits Contribute to Gingivitis

One of the causes of gingivitis is poor oral habits. When you neglect to take care of your teeth, plaque will form on them and lead to inflammation of your gums, causing gingivitis. Dental infections like gingivitis can lead to you developing heart disease,[1] so you can see how something like dental plaque and heart disease are intertwined. Our dental professionals at Brevard Health Alliance can evaluate your oral health and let you know if you’re a candidate for developing other medical issues.

How Does Gum Disease Affect Your Health?

Bacteria cause inflamed gums and increase the probability of narrowing of the arteries in your heart. This can lead to heart disease. If you have an artificial heart valve, it’s critical that you take care of your teeth as bacteria can also affect your valve, leading to infection.[3]

Significance of Gum Pain

Gum pain and heart attacks are also related. Gum pain and inflammation may warn you of an impending heart attack or stroke.[4]

The vagus nerve, which originates in the brain and passes through various organs, also passes through your jaw. Toothache pain from your vagus nerve could also be a sign you have problems with your heart.[5]

Bad Teeth and Heart Disease

There is a link between your wisdom teeth and the heart, central nervous system, intestines, and liver. Wisdom teeth problems could lead to cardiovascular diseases, cancer, high blood pressure, diabetes, liver disease, respiratory diseases, headaches, and eczema.[6]

According to research, if you have infected teeth, you are twice as likely to acquire heart disease. This risk becomes higher if the infection is at the tip of the tooth, even if it’s painless.[1]

For more information on how you can handle your gingivitis or cardiovascular issues, contact us Brevard Health Alliance to book an appointment. We’ll do our best to get to the bottom of your dental or medical issue.

Resources:

1. https://www.wmhs.com/hidden-tooth-infections-increase-heart-disease-risk-almost-three-times/ 
2. https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/gum-disease-and-the-connection-to-heart-disease
3. https://www.pennmedicine.org/updates/blogs/heart-and-vascular-blog/2019/march/gum-disease-and-heart-disease#:~:text=Researchers%20have%20uncovered%20oral%20bacteria,a%20heart%20attack%20or%20stroke
4. https://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/ss/slideshow-heart-diesase-clues
5. https://www.healthline.com/symptom/toothache
6. https://dentalmedicalbilling.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Tooth-Chart-of-Meridians.pdf