Your Mouth and Heart Disease

Isn’t it interesting that both the buildup on teeth and the buildup in arteries is called “plaque”? For years, few people considered this anything but mere coincidence. Because the organisms in plaque are difficult to culture (they thrive in the absence of oxygen), even if someone had made such a connection, it would have been hard to prove. With the advent of DNA sequencing, it suddenly became easy to show that some of the organisms found in the plaque in arteries do in fact originate in the mouth. 

 

The idea that disease in one part of the body could cause illness in another part was a major paradigm shift in the conventional dental community. Yet, holistic dentists had long known about this phenomenon and referred to it as the “focal infection” theory of disease.

 

Suddenly, a profession that had mocked holistic dentists for embracing this philosophy found itself rethinking its position. As more research is being done, a strong correlation between gum disease and cardiovascular disease (and other diseases, such as diabetes) is starting to emerge.

 

There are two main pathways by which this appears to happen. The first is mechanical in nature. When gums bleed, bacteria are introduced into the blood stream and adhere to the walls of blood vessels. Imagine throwing a rock into a smooth-running stream. The resulting turbulence allows artery-clogging substances to be more easily deposited. Studies show that the bacteria found in periodontal disease, such as Streptococcus sanguinis, can spread to the heart and are known to play a role in strokes. In the absence of gum disease, significantly fewer of these bacteria are present.

 

The second process is inflammatory in nature. Bacteria in the blood stream also trigger a general inflammatory response, which leads to the thickening and hardening of the arteries. This condition, known as atherosclerosis, reduces blood flow to the heart and brain, leading to an increased risk of a heart attack or stroke.

 

Considering the prevalence of gum disease in this country, this problem could affect a lot of people. According to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly half of Americans age 30 and older and 70 percent of those 65 and older have some degree of gum disease.

 

Bleeding gums are the easiest way to tell if you may have periodontal disease and should never be considered “normal.” If you notice this to be a persistent problem, it is definitely time for a trip to the dentist—the health of your teeth and your heart depend on it!

 

 

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