Periodontal Disease and Heart Health

What is the connection between periodontal disease and heart disease? You may be surprised to learn that there is a connection. There are several reasons why people who have periodontal disease also have heart disease and other heart related conditions, though science is still working to determine what the actual link is. In short, if you have periodontal disease, you are more likely to develop heart conditions than those who do not have this condition. But why? There are several theories that look to explain this.

One of the most commonly used theories to explain the link between periodontal disease and heart health is the bacteria. Bacteria found in the mouth can travel through the body and wind up in the blood stream and then the heart. It is able to attach to the fatty plaque that is found within the heart, specifically in the coronary arteries there. This causes the coronary arteries to build an even more significant amount of plaque, leading to complications. The condition known as coronary artery disease occurs when the walls of the arteries begin to thicken. This leads to an obstruction in these vessels, which leads to higher blood pressure. The higher your blood pressure is, the harder your heart needs to work. Thus, if the heart is pumping too hard, it can stop.

Another potential link between periodontal disease and heart disease is in the inflammation caused by the condition. The bacteria that cause periodontal disease in your mouth will lead to inflammation. The immune system responds to the inflammation, but chronic inflammation in the body weakens the immune system, making it less able to fight off the various health conditions you come into contact with. Inflammation in the mouth can also cause a buildup of inflammation in the heart, leading to damage to the heart’s blood vessels and tissues.

What we do know is that people who suffer from periodontal disease are more likely to develop heart disease. In fact, some studies suggest that those who have periodontal disease are twice as likely to suffer from coronary artery disease as those people who do not have this condition. This gives you an increased reason to take the time to get your periodontal disease under control, so that you do not have to put your heart at risk for it. Periodontal disease and heart disease are linked, and you can prevent that link from causing health complications for you by simply focusing on preventing the condition from developing.