{"id":214,"date":"2022-03-30T20:04:00","date_gmt":"2022-03-30T20:04:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kentuckysedationdentist.com\/blog\/?p=214"},"modified":"2022-04-25T20:06:52","modified_gmt":"2022-04-25T20:06:52","slug":"gum-disease-prestonsburg-and-high-blood-pressure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kentuckysedationdentist.com\/blog\/2022\/03\/30\/gum-disease-prestonsburg-and-high-blood-pressure\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Gum Disease Cause Hypertension? What You Should Know"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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High blood pressure claims tens of millions of lives each year. While many people focus on controlling risk factors like diet, exercise, and stress levels, there is another important risk factor that many people are unaware of \u2014 gum disease<\/a>. Let\u2019s talk about the link between gum disease and hypertension. What you learn may just motivate you to give serious thought to how you care for your smile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

The Correlation Between Gum Disease and High Blood Pressure<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Several studies have found a strong correlation between gum disease and high blood pressure. For example, a study published in 2021<\/a> found that individuals with gum disease were twice as likely to have high systolic blood pressure than those with healthy gums. The study also suggested that up to 50% of adults might have undetected high blood pressure due to gum disease. Separate research, published in 2020<\/a>, found that people with moderate gum disease were 22% more likely to have hypertension, while those with severe gum disease nearly 50% more likely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is It a Causative Relationship?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The abovementioned research found a significant association between gum disease and high blood pressure. However, they did not firmly establish a causative relationship. Nevertheless, there is good reason to believe that gum disease can<\/em> directly contribute to high blood pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gum disease is essentially an infection that causes the gums to become inflamed. However, the inflammation is not limited to just the mouth. Gum disease can spark an immune response that increases inflammation throughout the body. That inflammation, in turn, can contribute to high blood pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What You Can Do<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The relationship between gum disease and high blood pressure is concerning, but there is no need to become overly worried. There are some simple things you can do to care for your smile and thereby possibly reduce your risk of hypertension:<\/p>\n\n\n\n