We’re going to start this blog with two eye-opening statistics: 1) About 48% of adults in the United States have some form of cardiovascular disease; and 2) Slightly more than 47% of adults over the age of 30 in the US have periodontal, or gum, disease.
While we’re not implying that there is a direct cause-and-effect relationship between these two numbers, we are here to tell you that there is crossover between gum disease and heart disease. More specifically, having gum disease can increase your risk for heart disease.
Lafferty Family Care’s Dr. Scott Lafferty understands the many risk factors associated with heart disease, which is why we offer comprehensive heart attack prevention services. We believe that thoroughly understanding your risks can help you take the steps necessary to avoid the unthinkable, such as a heart attack or stroke.
To that end, we want to take a closer look at a lesser known risk for heart disease — periodontal disease — and how it can influence your heart health.
Gum disease starts out innocently enough — bacteria-harboring plaque sets up around your gum line, which can lead to slight inflammation around your gums (gingivitis). Left unchecked, these bacteria can get up under your gums and begin to eat away at the soft and hard tissues, which is why gum disease is one of the primary drivers of tooth loss.
Outside of the direct impact of gum disease on your oral health, we want to circle back to two words — inflammation and bacteria. Inflammation is your body’s response to an attack, in this case from bacteria. This response is meant for the short term, so you can take steps to get rid of the infection and your body can heal.
Unfortunately, gum disease can last quite a long time, and the chronic inflammation can add to existing inflammation in your body. This state of chronic inflammation is a major contributor to problems like atherosclerosis (narrowing of your arteries), and it can also affect your heart muscle.
Making matters worse, when there’s an abundance of harmful bacteria in your mouth, they can make their way into your bloodstream and reach your heart.
The best way to reduce gum disease as a risk factor for heart disease is to practice good oral hygiene. This include:
It’s important to watch out for early signs of gum disease — slight inflammation around your gums, which may bleed a little when you brush. At this point, a quick trip to your dentist for a professional cleaning can clear the gum disease.
While gum disease is only one risk factor on a list that includes smoking, having obesity, or not getting enough exercise, it’s still important to address, as any steps that you take to lower your chances of heart disease are steps worth taking.
If you want to learn more about the connection between heart disease and gum disease or you’d like to schedule a preventive cardiac risk assessment, please contact our office in Bentonville, Arkansas.
