Periodontal disease is extremely prevalent, and is also the main culprit when it comes to tooth loss. However, many people don’t realize that there’s a clear and well-known link between gum disease and heart health.
At Northwoods Dental Group, our dedicated staff, led by Dr. Nathan Klabunde, works to help you enjoy optimal dental health. That includes keeping gum disease at bay, and in the process, helps to bolster your heart health.
More than 700 different microbes are in your mouth at any given time, and a good number of them are bacteria. Many of the organisms that make their home in your mouth are good for you, but some lead to gum disease and tooth decay.
Whenever you eat or drink, tiny particles of what you consume remain on your teeth. Then, bacteria which feeds on those particles coat your teeth, forming a substance called plaque. When you brush and floss, your goal is to remove the plaque.
However, sometimes plaque remains, either because you waited too long between brushing or flossing or because there’s an area that’s difficult to reach. When that happens, the plaque hardens and becomes tartar, which can’t be removed with at-home oral hygiene tools. Tartar allows the bacteria to get beneath your gum line.
When the bacteria gets beneath your gums, it multiplies and causes inflammation and eventually infection.
You may not ever imagine that your oral health and your heart health are connected. But, the bacteria that causes gum disease can enter your bloodstream. Just as it causes inflammation in your gums, it can cause inflammation in other areas, such as your blood vessels and heart valves.
According to the American Academy of Periodontology, scientists are still working to fully understand the connection between gum disease and heart disease. Even though it isn’t entirely clear, there is a very clear association. If you have gum disease, you have a higher risk for developing heart disease.
In fact, gum disease doubles your risk of having a stroke, according to a study in Vascular Health and Risk Management. When you have a stroke, a blocked blood vessel reduces the amount of blood getting to your brain. You may have permanent brain damage or other health complications as a result.
There are numerous approaches to treating gum disease, depending on how advanced it has become. Some common treatments include:
While there are many effective treatments for gum disease, the best treatment is prevention. If you don’t develop gum disease, you protect your heart health. The best way to prevent periodontitis is to maintain a rigorous home-hygiene routine and to visit our office for regular professional cleanings to remove tartar before it gets beneath your gum line.
Make your appointment at Northwoods Dental Group today, and protect your oral and heart health!
