Oral Health is Where the Heart Is: The Oral Health/Heart Health Connection

To honor American Heart Month this February (and raise awareness all year-long!), it's time to take a moment and check in on one of your most important organs - your heart. In the United States, heart disease is the leading cause of death. And more shocking is that it’s completely preventable! So what can you do to protect your heart?

First, let me explain the connection between the mouth and heart health. Recently, the American Heart Association conducted a landmark study that confirmed that gum disease is causal to heart disease. Why is this so important? It confirms what many of us dentists have been saying all along–those nasty bacteria in your mouth can cause more significant disease in the rest of your body. This means that taking care of your oral health is critical; no negotiating!  

Additionally, medical studies conducted by Bradley Bale, MD, Amy Doneen, ARNP, and Lisa Collier Cool (authors of Beat the Heart Attack Gene), found that “50% of all heart attacks and strokes are caused by oral bacteria.” Yikes! In addition, data indicates that the same oral bacteria comprise “70% of fatal blood clot make up in heart attack and stroke cases.” Not only do oral bacteria cause heart attacks, but they also increase their fatality.

Now these stats aren’t meant to scare (ok, maybe just a little bit), they are meant to really wake you up–especially if you suffer from high blood pressure or heart disease in your family–and encourage you to assess your oral health and lifestyle habits that could contribute to your heart health.

That leads me to our favorite topic–inflammation. Chronic inflammation in our mouths can cause things like leaky gum syndrome where bacteria enter the bloodstream (via MMP-8) and circulate through the body triggering inflammatory responses that may contribute to heart problems. Additionally, it may play a role in the development of arterial plaque, which may eventually result in atherosclerosis, a disorder that narrows and hardens the arteries and limits blood flow to the heart. Streptococcus mutans, the bacteria that causes cavities, is also the bacteria responsible for 50% of infective endocarditis cases (heart infection). So patients should also worry about cavities as well as gum disease when it comes to heart health!

Heart disease can often manifest silently, underscoring the importance of recognizing associated signs. For men and women, these appear completely differently…so listen up! For men, heart attack symptoms can manifest as pressure on the chest (imagine an elephant sitting on your chest), the feeling like your heart is being squeezed, and pain and numbness down the arm. Ladies be aware of prolonged nausea, indigestion, back pain, and left side jaw/TMJ pain. These symptoms often go unnoticed, so women need to pay extra attention to their bodies. And in general everyone should be aware that high blood pressure and bleeding gums (look for pink in the sink when you floss!) can be indicators of heart disease.

Don’t wait for an extreme circumstance like a heart attack, high blood pressure or damage to the heart’s blood vessels to care for your mouth. By making simple lifestyle changes such as exercising, eating well, reducing stress, making sure you have low levels of inflammation and - of course- seeing your dentist, you can greatly reduce your risk of getting a heart disease! Your dentist could be your first line of defense in preventing heart attacks and lowering heart disease. Make sure that a trip to your dentist includes a thorough discussion of your family medical history and a blood pressure check.

Your dentist can assist in the detection of heart disease by performing an Oral Microbiome Test to identify the bacteria that inhabit your mouth and see if they may be damaging your heart! To provide the best treatment for you, it's critical to understand that not all bacteria react to the same treatments, such as standard cleanings.  See your dentist for a gum disease screening, particularly if heart conditions run in your family.

By taking these proactive measures, you can significantly reduce the risk of gum disease and, consequently, lower the risk of heart problems.

Want to know more about the connection between oral health and heart disease? Then grab a copy of Saved By the Mouth or schedule a Telehealth appointment today.