Is there a link between oral health and heart disease?

Cardiovascular disease, the leading killer of men and women in the United States, is a major public health issue contributing to 2,400 deaths each day. Periodontal disease, a chronic inflammatory disease that destroys bone and gum tissues that support the teeth affects nearly 75 percent of Americans and is the major cause of adult tooth loss. And while the prevalence rates of these disease states seems grim, research suggests that managing one disease may reduce the risk for the other.

A consensus paper on the relationship between heart disease and gum disease was published concurrently in the online versions of two leading publications, the American Journal of Cardiology (AJC), a publication circulated to 30,000 cardiologists, and the Journal of Periodontology (JOP), the official publication of the American Academy or Periodontology (AAP). Developed in concert by cardiologists, the physicians specialized in treating diseases of the heart, and periodontists, the dentists with advanced training in the treatment and prevention of periodontal disease, the paper contains clinical recommendations for both medical and dental professionals to use in managing patients living with, or who are at risk for, either disease. As a result of the paper, cardiologists may now examine a patient’s mouth, and periodontists may begin asking questions about heart health and family history of heart disease.

While additional research will help identify the precise relationship between periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease, recent emphasis has been placed on the role of inflammation - the body’s reaction to fight off infection, guard against injury or shield against irritation. While inflammation initially intends to have a protective effect, untreated chronic inflammation can lead to dysfunction of the affected tissues, and therefore to more severe health complications.

Brushing and flossing your teeth might be just as important as a healthy diet and exercising when it comes to heart health. Here are some stats from the American Academy of Periodontology: people with gum disease are almost two times as likely to have heart disease; the more cavities you have and the more teeth you lose to decay, the higher your risk of getting heart disease. The culprit is disease-causing bacteria in our mouths that makes its way to our arteries, causing them to harden and thicken. So brushing twice a day, flossing once a day and regular dental checkups not only make for healthy teeth and gums, they keep your heart healthy too.

Gum disease may not seem like a major health problem, but it's been called a silent killer. In this video, dentist and prosthodontist Dr. Jonathan B. Levine talks about how plaque and tartar in your mouth may endanger your heart.