Believe it or not, taking good care of your teeth may have a positive impact on your heart health, while poor oral health care can lead heart disease and damage.
Here’s why:
There are always bacteria and microscopic germs residing in your mouth– you’re breathing them in at any given time, inhaling germs and getting ill from it. The relationship between oral health and cardiovascular health is related to the affinity of people with gum disease.
When you have bacteria sitting on your gums and your teeth, the oral bacteria are able filter into your blood stream. This translates into plaque deposits in the arteries near your heart because of the volume and cycling that the heart does. And we know from all the commercials on TV what happens when you have plaque buildup in your arteries.
The plaque from oral bacteria can harm blood vessels, cause blood clots, and eventually cause a heart attack. It can’t be filtered out the same way as the bacteria you swallow. Think of it in terms of how we think of alcohol. One alcoholic drink gets filtered through the body, but when you overwhelm your body with too much alcohol, it can cause a profound impact on your ability to function properly.
The research that has been published so far is all pointing people towards preventive health measures. They’re encouraging people who want to take care of their cardiovascular system to make sure they take proper oral health steps — brushing at least twice a day, flossing, and rinsing.
But don’t let this news frighten you: you won’t get heart disease from the one time that you have gum disease for a week, or the couple of times a year you fall asleep on the couch and forget to brush your teeth before bed.
But remember, over time, your oral health can have a huge impact on the acceleration of heart plaque build-up and clotting, not to mention the long-term quality of your health. It will add up, so take your oral health seriously.
Dr. Don M. Preble 