there are good reasons to keep an eye on your gums; bacteria under the gum line does not only affect the mouth. More and more research studies show a connection between gum inflammation, tooth loss and increased risk of heart attacks.
That’s because there is substantial evidence to show that the state of your oral health has a direct link to your heart. For instance, it’s known that if you have moderate to advanced gum disease, you’re at a higher risk of heart disease than someone with healthy gums. Furthermore, your oral health can also indicate other diseases and conditions, including those in the heart.
link between poor oral health and cardiovascular disease, or heart disease. Here are some of the research findings:
Our heart is simply the most hard-working organ in our body, pumping oxygen and nutrient-rich blood throughout our body 24*7. To lay down the statistics, our heart pumps 2,000 gallons of blood every day, or 6 quartz of blood every minute.
You might be asking why, when we're talking about oral health, we're mentioning the heart's functionality. They can quickly attach themselves to blood arteries and enter your bloodstream, where they can then go to your heart. The potential for inflammation makes it a major hazard to the cardiovascular system. As a result, you unwittingly permit a harmful impact on your heart from your dental health.
The illness that follows from it most frequently is endocarditis, which happens when the inside lining of your heart contracts an infection.
• Poor oral health may be a predictor of future or current heart disease.
• Oral infections may produce inflammation that can be associated with heart disease.
• People with poor oral health tend to have poor nutrition since they may not have enough teeth to eat a
healthy diet, which is essential for preventing heart disease
• The more teeth a person has lost, the more likely they are to have gum disease and also carotid artery plaques (indicators of heart disease).
The connection between heart disease and oral health requires more investigation.
However, it is important to note that people with good oral health generally have fewer chronic diseases,
including heart disease.
Symptoms of Bad Dental Health
You know your oral health is deteriorating when you see the following symptoms:
- Swollen, red gums
- Bleeding gum, especially when you brush, floss, or eat
- Loose-end teeth
- Continuous bad breath
- Pus-oozing gums
Apart from these symptoms, if you are a patient of gingivitis, then your dental health can affect your heart severely.
How Can Your Gums Indicate Heart Disease?
While it might sound like your teeth and gums have nothing but a problematic relationship with your heart, this isn’t true. Your heart can actually greatly benefit from what’s going on in your mouth, as your gums are excellent at predicting whether or not your heart is beginning to develop problems. This unique ability helps many doctors diagnose heart conditions much sooner than they might otherwise be able to.
We’ve already learned that bacteria from your gums can travel down to your heart, creating problems. In this way, your gums are affecting your heart.
Let’s say you go to the dentist. The dentist checks you over and begins to notice that you have some real signs of advanced and severe gum disease. There’s a possibility that they won’t find anything, but it’s also possible that they uncover the early stages of a heart condition. Without that visit to the dentist, your heart disease might not have been uncovered until much later.
Gum health isn’t quite as simple as a basic test that tells you whether or not your heart is healthy. However, think of it more like an indicator. Gum disease doesn’t mean you absolutely will have a resulting heart condition. It simply means that the possibility is there and should probably be checked out, just to be safe.
How can I help to protect my heart?
Maintaining good oral hygiene procedures is key in helping to protect your heart. This means brushing at least twice a day, using dental floss or interdental brushes daily and steering clear of eating too many sweets and drinking sugary drinks.
If you already have heart disease it is important to have good oral hygiene habits. Good oral hygiene can help
prevent some types of heart infections (such as bacterial endocarditis). You need to take special precautions if
you have any of the following conditions: prosthetic heart valves, history of endocarditis, or heart defects
(such as damaged valves, etc).
To maintain the health of your lips and heart, follow these simple procedures..
- •Brush your teeth twice a day and floss once a day to maintain optimum oral health.
- In addition, make sure
- that you see your dentist regularly.
- • Make sure you tell your dentist about your heart condition.
- • Follow any instructions given to you by your dentist and physician. This is especially important because you may need a prescription for an antibiotic before your dental appointments.
How do I know if I’ve already got gum disease?
Some of the things to look out for include:
- Bleeding gums when you brush your teeth
- Swollen, red gums that are tender to the touch
- Bad breath, despite brushing your teeth regularly
- Some of your teeth feel loose
- Your gums are receding
FAQ
Regular and proper tooth brushing can lower your risk of developing heart disease. In fact, according to a South Korean study, brushing your teeth three or more times per day could lower your risk of heart failure by 12%
People with heart valve disease are particularly at risk when gum disease is present, Dr. Ambrose says. “The bacteria that live in your mouth when you have gum disease can cross into your bloodstream, enter the heart, and directly infect the vulnerable heart valves,
Dental Checkup Services
Our range of products
Oral Care Blogs
Recent Comments