The link between gum disease and heart disease
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The link between gum disease and heart disease
The plaque on your teeth may have a connection with the plaque in your arteries. Research has probed into the possibility of a link between gum disease and cardiovascular disease. The sticky, bacteria-laden film or plaque your dental hygienist patiently scrapes on and around your teeth at each dental visit is a sign of gum or periodontal disease.
Signs of periodontal disease can include the following:
· Swollen, red, or tender gums
· Gums that bleed easily
· Pus between the teeth and gums
· Bad breath
· Buildup of hard brown deposits along the gum line
· Loose teeth or teeth that are moving apart
· Change in the way dental appliances fit
A completely different type of plaque can also build up on the inside of your arteries. This plaque is called atherosclerosis, the fatty plaque signaling coronary artery disease made up of fat, cholesterol, calcium, and other substances found in blood.
What scientists have discovered is that gum disease appears to increase two to three times the risk of having a heart attack, stroke, or other serious cardiovascular event. However, just because you may not have plaque or gum disease, does not mean you are risk free from developing cardiovascular disease. By the same token, not everyone with gum disease will develop heart problems. Much of this is often determined by shared risk factors such as smoking or eating an unhealthy diet. But, there is growing evidence that gum disease may be an independent risk factor for heart disease.
The inflammation connection
When a person has periodontal disease, one thing this points to is inflammation. The condition of gum disease and plaque increases the body’s burden of inflammation, particularly chronic inflammation.
Chronic inflammation is a type of inflammation that is long-term and is a primary contributor to many health problems such as atherosclerosis.
The goal has been to discover how to squelch chronic inflammation. One such research has shown some promise and interesting discoveries in this area. A study using rabbits fed them cholesterol-rich diets as a model to mimic human heart disease. Some of the rabbits were deliberately infected with bacteria known to cause periodontal disease. These rabbits developed atherosclerotic plaques which increased their risk of a heart attack along with higher blood levels of inflammation than the rabbits not exposed to the gum disease bacteria.
To treat the problem of increasing heart disease in the infected rabbits, researchers treated them with an oral topical liquid that contained resolvins, molecules derived from omega-3 fatty acids believed to reduce inflammation. The treatment worked as it not only prevented periodontal disease in these rabbits but also lowered inflammation and atherosclerosis.
Stay vigilant fighting gum disease
Even though there appears to be a link between gum disease and heart disease, at this time there is no proof showing treating gum disease will absolutely prevent cardiovascular disease. Yet, dentists and doctors do strongly advise it is a good reason to be vigilant in preventing and treating gum disease if it is found.
Here are the best ways to prevent gum disease according to dentists:
· Brush and floss teeth every day. Doing this health habit twice daily can prevent and may even reverse an early stage of gum disease known as gingivitis. If gingivitis is left untreated, the gums can become loose around the root of a tooth, creating a gum pocket that gradually deepens. Within time, the infection and inflammation can cause the tooth to loosen and possibly fall out.
· If you are ever told you have gingivitis, have your dental hygienist demonstrate how to correctly brush and floss your teeth. Many people do not spend enough time or do it incorrectly when brushing.
· Flossing is important as it sweeps away the sticky film between teeth that can lead to plaque buildup.
· See you dentist and dental hygienist twice a year