{"id":42,"date":"2019-05-25T18:48:19","date_gmt":"2019-05-25T18:48:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kentuckysedationdentist.com\/blog\/?p=42"},"modified":"2019-05-30T18:51:18","modified_gmt":"2019-05-30T18:51:18","slug":"gum-disease-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kentuckysedationdentist.com\/blog\/2019\/05\/25\/gum-disease-2\/","title":{"rendered":"The Surprising Link Between Gum Disease and Heart Disease"},"content":{"rendered":"\"heartUntreated gum disease can lead to devastating consequences for your oral health, such as chronic bad breath, loose teeth, and even tooth loss. However, its effects can reach even further. Gum disease has been linked to a number of serious overall health issues, including preterm birth, dementia, and heart problems. In this post, we\u2019ll examine the link between gum health and heart health.\r\n\r\n\r\n

Gum Disease and Heart Disease Go Hand in Hand<\/h2>\r\nVarious studies have noted an association between gum disease and heart disease. For example, an article in Harvard Heart Letter<\/em><\/a> noted, \u201cPeople with gum disease (also known as periodontal disease) have two to three times the risk of having a heart attack, stroke, or other serious cardiovascular event.\u201d A different study, published in 2016, found that individuals with gum disease have a 50 percent higher risk of heart attack than people with healthy gums.\r\n

Causation or Correlation?<\/h2>\r\nClearly, there is a strong correlation between gum disease and heart problems. However, the question remains, is it a causal <\/em>relationship? That is, does the gum disease actually lead to heart disease, or is the correlation due to common risk factors, such as smoking?\r\n\r\nMany experts believe that gum disease can indeed contribute to heart disease. Their conviction stems from the fact that when bacteria from gum disease invade the bloodstream, it increases inflammation throughout the body. Chronic inflammation, in turn, contributes to a slew of systemic health problems, including atherosclerosis (atherosclerosis is a condition wherein fatty deposits cling to artery walls). Furthermore, oral bacteria have been found in the fatty deposits of individuals with atherosclerosis.\r\n\r\nIt is also worth noting that people who receive adequate oral care for their gum disease have significantly lower (10 \u2013 40 percent) cardiovascular care costs than people with untreated gum disease.\r\n

Protect Your Gums, Protect Your Heart<\/h2>\r\nThe link between gum disease and heart disease provides a strong motivation for everyone to pay more attention to their gum health. To protect your gums, and thus lower your risk of cardiovascular problems, you should:\r\n