How Gum Disease Affects Your Heart
America's #1 killer of adults is heart disease. We've all heard ways to decrease your risk - eat healthy, exercise, lose weight, lower cholesterol, control high blood pressure and decrease stress. But there is one other way to reduce your risk of heart disease that is not so obvious. It is cheap, easy and you probably already do it. It is brushing and flossing your teeth!
In recent medical studies, researchers have found that people who had suffered heart attacks had noticeably worse oral health when compared to people without a history of heart disease. This does not prove that bad teeth and gums caused the heart attacks, but it does indicate a strong association between these two factors.
How might oral health affect the heart?
One theory is that the bacteria found in gum disease can enter your bloodstream and cause inflammation. This inflammation has been linked to the formation of blood clots and the thickening of your arteries. As a result, this can lead to both strokes and heart attacks. Your mouth has many bacteria in it, but not all the bugs can affect your heart.
Researchers found that only certain bacteria in your mouth are actually linked to heart disease. These organisms release toxins that circulate around the body. The body’s arterial system may be affected.
Several medical studies show a startling correlation: The more severe the gum disease, the thicker and harder the walls of the arteries. This is true even for young, healthy adults with no other symptoms of heart problems. Narrowing of the arteries (or atherosclerosis) is a key component of heart disease.
Gum disease threatens more than your heart.
In theory, the toxins in plaque can cause harm wherever they go. In fact, scientists are finding more and more links between oral health and conditions such as diabetes, kidney disease, preterm labor, osteoporosis, and even certain types of cancer.
With deep cleaning and removal of bacterial buildup, gum disease can be reversed. A 2007 report in the New England Journal of Medicine noted that patients in an intensive six-month program to treat gum disease emerged not only with healthier gums but with improved endothelial function — a reference to the lining of the blood vessels.
Too many of us neglect our gums and teeth. One reason sited is the high cost of professional dental care. What many people don't realize is that they can lower their cost of dental care with a good discount dental plan such as Careington. You can find details at http://www.dentalplans.pro.
Obviously, good oral health will help you avoid tooth loss. It might also lead to a healthier heart.