Love Your Teeth if You Love Your Heart

Gum Disease Might Even Lead to Damage to Blood Vessels

Brushing, flossing and taking care of our teeth is definitely going to impact oral health, for the positive. Also, tons and tons of bacteria in our mouth influence the health of gums and teeth. But in what way does this affect our heart health and in the first place, does it affect our heart health at all? Studies on oral health impacting overall body health have been frequently published with scientific evidence supporting it and the idea that dental hygiene affects heart health has been discussed for more than a century. Amongst such studies, one of them has proved that periodontal disease is associated with atherosclerotic vascular disease and might also be an alarm bell for diabetes. Yet another study has linked gum disease and reduced number of teeth with an increased risk of ischemic stroke.

New studies are focusing on the health of teeth as a person ages and its corresponding association with heart health. According to the study, teeth loss during midlife are linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease irrespective of traditional risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes and an unhealthy lifestyle. Also, the risk is furthermore in the case of middle-aged adults who have lost two or more teeth in the recent past. The study analyzed individuals between the ages 45 and 69 who showed no signs of heart disease and self-reported their total number of teeth. These individuals registered their tooth loss during an 8-year period. Researchers tracked people with incidence of no tooth loss, one tooth loss and two or more teeth lost over a period of 12-18 years. Results showed that:

• Individuals having between 25 and 32 natural teeth initially and who lost 2 or more teeth had a 23% increased risk of cardiovascular disease.    
• Individuals having fewer than 17 teeth at the start of the study were at a 25% increased risk of heart disease.
• Individuals who lost only 1 tooth showed no marked difference in heart health.
• Individuals who lost 2 or more teeth recently are at an increased risk of heart health regardless of the number of natural teeth a person had as a middle-aged adult.

Researchers suggest inflammation, alterations in dietary intake or changing bacterial composition in the mouth or gastrointestinal systems as contributing factors for increased risk of heart disease.

Despite articles, studies and books talking about oral health and overall body health, only one in six people realize that gum disease might increase the risk of stroke or diabetes and only one in three are aware of the heart disease link.

Gum Disease Troubles

Gums are tissues that support our teeth and infections in these tissues due to bacteria from plaque build-up result in gum disease. Certain individuals are more susceptible to gum disease and in these individuals the body causes too much inflammation of the gums such that it affects the bloodstream too and damage the blood vessels in the heart and brain over a long period.

This can be avoided as much as possible by brushing your teeth and taking care of the gums which helps improve overall body health too. For those who are unaware, oral health is a mirror to a person's overall body health. If you are interested to know more about the underlying link, please visit the website www.firsteatright.com. Brush your teeth for a full two minutes twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and floss your teeth too regularly. Visit your dentist at least twice a year for getting your teeth examined and cleaning them. All these will prove advantageous to your oral health and benefit your heart as well.