Originally published September 2020. Updated October 2021.
You do everything you can to take care of your health. From maintaining a healthy diet to exercising regularly, you make your health a priority. But if you’re not equally as diligent about your oral health, your heart may be in jeopardy.
We recently teamed up with the American Heart Association to help spread the word on how a healthy smile is key to a strong and healthy heart! And while it may not seem like the two have much in common, research suggest the link is actually stronger than you think.
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Gum Disease
Gum disease, or periodontal disease, typically starts out as an inflammatory gum infection called gingivitis. It’s caused by a buildup of plaque — a sticky film of bacteria — on your teeth and gums. As gum disease progresses, it can advance to periodontitis, which happens when plaque sits in small pockets beneath the gum line.
Heart Disease
Coronary artery disease, the most common type of heart disease, is caused by an entirely different type of plaque called atherosclerosis, which is made from cholesterol and fat. This gradual buildup of atherosclerosis is a serious health concern if left untreated. It’s one of the leading causes of heart attack.
How They're Connected
While medical experts don’t know exactly why gum disease increases your chances of developing heart disease, they believe that untreated periodontitis can cause bacteria from your mouth to travel through your bloodstream, which clogs your arteries and raises your risk of heart infection.
As your arteries become clogged with plaque and bacteria, they can narrow and harden, preventing oxygen-rich blood from reaching the heart.
How You Can Protect Yourself
Gum disease is certainly not the only condition that’s been connected to heart disease. Diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure), poor diet choices, and unhealthy lifestyle habits all increase your risk of heart disease.
However, you can protect your gums and heart by making yourself aware of the early warning signs of gum disease, before it advances to periodontitis.
The most common gum disease symptoms include:
- Gum inflammation;
- Bleeding gums;
- Gum sensitivity;
- Pain when chewing;
- Loose teeth;
- Receding gums;
- Halitosis (bad breath);
Inflamed gums are typically the earliest warning sign of gum disease, so it’s important to talk to your dentist about your symptoms at the first sign of trouble. Early intervention and gum treatments, such as deep cleanings, scaling, and root planing, can help reduce the symptoms of gum disease and protect your heart from infection.
Sign up for MySmile® to check your benefits! Many of our plans include extra cleanings for periodontitis at no extra cost!
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Source: Publishing, H. (2018, March). Gum disease and heart disease: The common thread. Retrieved September 07, 2020, from https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/gum-disease-and-heart-disease-the-common-thread
