We often hear that there is a big connection between heart health and dental health. How is the heart connected to your teeth and gums, and can dental problems cause heart problems?<\/p>\n
The major connection is the bloodstream. Bacteria travel from the mouth to other parts of the body through blood. The bacteria cause inflammation in the weaker areas of the heart and can cause various types of cardiovascular diseases. Inflammation makes the blood more prone to clotting and can result in a stroke. Atherosclerosis (clogging of arteries) can also result from invasive microorganisms from the mouth spreading in the circulatory system, eventually leading to a heart attack. Endocarditis \u2014 an inflammation of heart valves, heart muscle, and heart lining \u2014 is another cardiovascular condition that can be caused by a dental infection or an infection in the gums.<\/p>\n
When advanced and chronic stages of gum diseases such as periodontal disease and gingivitis go undiagnosed and unchecked, they can lead to bacteria spreading in the blood stream. Patients with these conditions are at the highest risk of cardiovascular diseases. Signs of early gum disease include sore and swollen gums that hurt, sensitive gums that bleed when you brush or floss, loose teeth that feel as if they are separating from other teeth, continuous bad taste or bad breath, or oral infection that looks like pus.<\/p>\n