The Link Between Heart, Stroke and Gum Disease

Dentistry researchers have started to notice that periodontal disease seems to be associated with more serious health problems too. Research has now shown a link between not only heart and stroke problems but also diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and prostate diseases as well; when gum disease is already present. Attention has started to shift towards being more aware of the fact that the condition of a patient's gums can be an indicator of other health related problems. You could say... if the research is correct, that poor oral care and evidence of periodontitis is like a very serious warning sign of other potentially serious diseases. This is a very strong indicator that poor oral healthcare affects much more than your mouth; it can also affect the rest of your body too.

Now that there is some evidence to suggest that gum disease is related to the presence of other specific diseases, including heart disease and stroke, it raises the question of "why" this might be occurring. Although multiple theories have been suggested to explain the link between periodontal disease and heart disease (including stroke), one major theory stands out. This theory is based on the premise that oral bacteria can affect the heart adversely by entering the blood stream, thereby reaching the heart and contributing to clot formation. It is well known that coronary artery disease is caused because the walls of the coronary arteries thicken, due to a build-up of fatty proteins. This is the area that the oral bacteria are thought to attach and grow, contributing to the arterial thickening. If these areas clot, they can restrict the flow of blood, which carries/delivers oxygen and other nutrients to the heart. This can cause the heart to malfunction, which ultimately leads to potentially life-threatening heart attacks. This same process is thought to contribute to the number of strokes that people suffer from too.

Another theory being considered is that the bacteria actually cause inflammation in the already thickened arteries, which is generated as a by-product of the body's normal defense against microorganisms. This theory is based on the premonition that the arteries were already thickening and that the bacteria caused by the gum disease only contributed to what was already a very serious physical issue. This is essentially the same as saying that excess inflammatory cells produced during inflammation can add to the already thickened area, which can then eventually lead to a potential heart attack or stroke. The question really comes down to what causes what, vs. something that might only contribute to an already existing problem.

Researchers in the dental community have found that people with periodontal disease are nearly twice as likely to suffer from coronary artery disease and subsequent heart attacks as people who do not have gum disease. Periodontal disease may also exacerbate pre-existing heart conditions. Patients who are at risk for this problem may be required by their medical doctor to be placed on antibiotics before any invasive dentistry procedures can be performed.