How Healthy Gums Affect Your Heart

Your dental hygiene is essential to your health. Aside from the bright smile and gleaming appearance, gum health also impacts heart health. However, the research is still ongoing, but others state the relationship between teeth gums and heart diseases. The research is done by cardiologists and periodontists alike, responsible for treating conditions related to gum. The research present hasn’t fully stated if gum disease impacts heart disease. However, there are pieces of evidence that prove so, and they are not reliable and still need further observation.

Gum disease starts as gingivitis, the reddishness, and the swollenness of gums, making it vulnerable to bleeding when brushing or eating. The disease results from plaque accumulated and blocks teeth’ space over time. The disease can escalate if left unattended, leading to inflammation and weakening of the gum structure holding the teeth. As time passes, teeth can get loosened and pulled out. However, it may take time to notice this disease as its effect is painless until its late stages.

What’s that got to do with your heart?

Research has been performed for years concerning healthy gums and heart health. Gum disease is sticky caused by a bacterial called plaque which pills up around the teeth. The plaque comprises fat, cholesterol, calcium, and other food substances. This build-up results in atherosclerosis, a fatty plaque that can lead to coronary artery disease.

Heart attacks easily happen to people with gum issues. They are also prone to stroke, disc infection, and other cardio heart issues. However, the link may be indirect but can be the root of the problem. But there are suspicions that gum disease is a primary cause of some heart diseases.

There are also other ways poor oral hygiene can attack our heart health. Though there hasn’t been a strong link, some gum diseases are the root of some heart diseases. Here are other ways poor oral health can affect our heart health.

Periodontitis is a gum disease that makes a person prone to heart disease.
Poor oral hygiene only pill-up bacteria in the bloodstream, which is carried in the heart valves, causing damage. Oral health is a possible way to curb this infection, especially if you’re on artificial valves.
Poor oral health leads to rapid tooth loss connected to coronary artery disease.

Preventing gum disease

Other than oral hygiene to maintain a healthy heart, other genetic conditions need to be kept in check.

Some gum diseases are inherited from a family member. So, if you observed your family members losing their teeth early, then there is the probability of you getting gum disease. The best way to stay off gum disease is to interfere with the growth of the plaque on your teeth. Here are some ways to eliminate this plaque to avoid accumulation.