Periodontal Disease Proven to Precede and Worsen Heart Disease

Recent research has shown a positive association between periodontal disease and heart disease. With heart disease being the leading cause of death in the United States, it is important that patients understand and recognize symptoms of a periodontal disease as well as proper treatment in order to prevent it leading to a more serious heart condition.  But in order to do that, we need to understand how those diseases can be related.

What is the Link?

 Scientists have determined that connection between oral and heart diseases is the associated bacteria. You can find the same bacteria around the infected gum tissue and the fatty deposits of atherosclerosis that you find in association with some heart disease. When bacteria in the gums breaks the barrier between the connective tissue and gums, the inflammation process begins. Bacteria then enters the bloodstream and can travel to other parts of the circulatory system, which can cause cardiovascular disease. When bacteria travels through the body it causes arterial plaque formation and fatty deposits. If the arteries narrow and clog the arteries with fatty deposits then the chances of heart attack or stroke increases.

Plaque deposits in arteries can be caused by bacteria

Periodontal disease not only causes tooth loss but it can lead to multiple other systemic diseases. It is important to seriously accept the treatment ordered by your doctor and to make sure that it is successful so that you can avoid it leading to other detrimental diseases. The most important thing, to begin with, is proper oral hygiene and regular teeth cleaning sessions. If your doctor diagnoses the disease and follows the correct treatment plan, they have the full set of tools to inform and educate the patient about all the warning signs and why it is important not to ignore them.    Sometimes certain symptoms appear only in the latest stages of periodontal disease, so it is very important to do regularly scheduled checkups and to follow your periodontists’ recommendations.  

Warning Signs of Periodontal Disease

• Swollen, tender or red gums
• Pain in the mouth
• Bleeding while eating, flossing or brushing
• Receding gums that pull away from the teeth
• Teeth that look longer than before
• Separating or loose teeth
• Oozing around the teeth and gums
• Sores
• Bad breath
• Changes in your bite
• Fit change in partial dentures