{"id":198,"date":"2024-01-13T14:12:00","date_gmt":"2024-01-13T14:12:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.drruiz.com\/blog\/?p=198"},"modified":"2024-08-15T22:59:27","modified_gmt":"2024-08-15T22:59:27","slug":"the-link-between-gum-disease-and-heart-disease","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.drruiz.com\/blog\/the-link-between-gum-disease-and-heart-disease\/","title":{"rendered":"The Link Between Gum Disease and Heart Disease"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Periodontal disease, or gum disease, is inflammation of the gums that can lead to a breakdown of the gums, teeth, and bone. Heart disease is caused by the blockage of blood vessels that leads to conditions such as heart attack or stroke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

These, of course, sound like very different conditions. But recently, many researchers have begun to hone in on how these two might be related. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is there a link between gum disease and heart disease?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There have been multiple studies that have shown a link between gum disease and heart disease. For example, in 2014<\/a>, researchers found that people who received good care for their gum disease had up to 40% lower cardiovascular care costs than people who didn\u2019t get adequate care for their gum disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A review article<\/a> that looked at the results of multiple studies found that people with gum disease had about a 20% higher risk for heart disease, although more research is needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another study<\/a> by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that almost half of adults older than 30 and 70% of adults age 65 and older have some level of gum disease. So, this link could affect many people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because of these studies, the American Dental Association and the American Heart Association have both acknowledged the link between periodontal and heart disease. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why is there a link between gum disease and heart disease?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Researchers have long known that inflammation leads to atherosclerosis<\/a> (hardened arteries) which makes it harder for blood to flow to your heart, thus increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we know, one of the signs of gum disease is inflammation. So, gum disease may increase the risk of heart disease because that inflammation allows bacteria to spread below the gum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other diseases connected to your oral health<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Heart disease isn\u2019t the only condition that is connected to your oral health. For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n