In addition to the harmful effects of stress on health, including oral health, the American Academy of Periodontology has linked periodontal (gum) disease to heart disease. One theory they put forth is that oral bacteria produced by gum disease can affect the heart when the bacteria enter the bloodstream, attaching to fatty plaques in the coronary arteries (heart blood vessels) and contributing to clot formation.
Coronary artery disease is characterized by a thickening of the walls of the coronary arteries because of the build-up of fatty proteins. Blood clots can obstruct normal blood flow, restricting the amount of nutrients and oxygen required for the heart to function properly. This may lead to heart attacks.
Another possible reason they put forth is that the inflammation caused by periodontal disease increases plaque buildup, which may contribute to swelling of the arteries. Researchers have found that people with periodontal disease are almost twice as likely to suffer from coronary artery disease as those without periodontal disease. Periodontal disease can also worsen existing heart conditions. This may well be another important link between stress and heart disease, which can then lead to heart disease.
Additional studies have linked gum disease and stroke. Researchers have found that the risk for stroke is 2.8 times greater for individuals with periodontal disease than those without periodontal disease. It is clear that there is a significant inflammatory component linking all of these syndromes and diseases, which is immensely important when we realize that the inflammation directly impacts the progression of gum disease, heart disease and atherosclerosis.
As an active researcher, I welcome your comments and suggestions.
I have to remember to be more diligent about flossing!
Flossing is healthy and it results in very clean gums.
Dear Dr. Perricone,
As a dentist of 27 years, and Forensic Odontologist for 20, I wholeheartedly concur with what you say. We have known a septicemia from Perio can, in a patient with heart murmur or valve prolapse, cause subacute bacterial endocarditis. It only stands to reason the susceptiblity for atherosclerotic lesions to develop is evident whenever a heart procedure is done, even in a patient not at risk. Bleeding gums is terrible warning sign. Thank you, Mary Beth
I have switched to a water pic per advice from my dentists. Do I still need to floss?
Hi Rita. Best to check with your dentist.
You know, I wonder if the type of floss used has ever been the focus of a study concerning heart health. I prefer, for example, a type of unwaxed floss that more resembles rough string than traditional waxed dental floss. There are some other types of floss, such as dentotape, that break easily and do not seem at all effective in removing plaque. I feel cleaner & have better breath when I use an unwaxed floss. I guess, though, just getting people to floss at all, with any type of floss, is a big step. It’d just be interesting to determine a link between the trilogy of type of floss, oral health and cardiovascular health.
This is crazy! I never would have thought these could be linked. Is it proven they indeed do relate with each other or is it mainly just that those individuals with either one condition just have poor overall health and so its likely they could get one since they have the other? Just thinking aloud.
I try and floss twice a day.
well i know for a fact that this article is right. i had a beautiful smile, healthy teeth and gums but i got in the wrong hands afew years ago and go to my web sight to see the slideshow of the pictures. i have been lefy with no way out and i cant floss as these twenty temporaries are stopping me. there are no organizations that pay to fix this and medicade of course does not cover this. this is not a walk in clinic case but in the highly qualified and skilled hands of dentists to rebuild my bite in new working and functioning temporaries, to start. i have suffered fr more than i can right in this limited space and my life is distroyed. i needed philanthropy and have tried non stop to try and find one to no avail. what am i supposed to do.. i dont have to die. hankyou susan
Hi,
I am all for flossing and do every day, but don’t you think the link is because the sort of unhealthy foods that rot your teeth also cause problems like heart disease? And maybe those who take care to floss, are the type who don’t eat those bad foods?
Interesting thought. Diligence in one area tends to spill over to other areas.