The link: gum disease and heart disease

The Link:

Gum Disease and Heart Disease
Floss Today for a Healthier Heart Tomorrow

To the surprise of many, periodontal - or gum - disease has been shown in multiple studies over the past 10 years to be more of a risk factor for heart disease than many of the more commonly recognized risk factors, such as smoking, high cholesterol, body mass index and diabetes. This recently acknowledged link between oral health and heart disease has major importance, considering heart disease is the number one killer in the United States, claiming over 2.4 million lives each year!

Dentists and dental researchers have long known that oral health could, in fact, provide warning signs for many systemic diseases that affect a number of organs and tissues, or even the body as a whole. Research has now shown that most, if not all, major systemic diseases, including heart disease, have some outward oral indictor. According to the Academy of General Dentistry, 80% of US adults have some degree of gum disease. Some signs of gum disease include bleeding or swelling of the gums, bad breath, oral ulcers, and receding gums.

How does gum disease increase the risk of heart disease? Taking it a step further, gum disease may not only be a manifestation of a systemic issue. It may actually exacerbate an existing issue. Current theories essentially believe that dental plaque enters the bloodstream, attaching to fatty plaques and blood vessel walls. The increase in clot formation results in a decrease of blood flow to the heart and an elevation of the blood pressure. This, in turn, can cause hypertension and, in some cases, even lead to heart attacks. It’s been determined that people with gum disease have at least a two times higher incidence of coronary artery disease and heart attacks.

Unfortunately, with 80% of the population having some form of gum disease people often times overlook the dangers of this problem. Not only does gum disease eat away jaw bone, but bleeding gums allow bacteria from the dental plaque to enter the bloodstream, with the potential of contributing to this thickening of the arteries.

It is important to understand that oral health goes beyond simple x-rays, fillings and cleanings. It gives us the opportunity to gain greater insight into our overall health and well-being. With a more comprehensive and holistic approach to oral health…and gum disease in particular…we can actually prevent the advance of many serious illnesses. That is why it is so crucial that today’s dental professionals, dentists and hygienists alike, understand this correlation so they can begin the educational process with their patients.

The American Academy of Periodontology has created a simple Gum Disease Assessment Test to evaluate your potential risk of periodontal disease, which is helpful in examining the risk. This quick online test asks some simple questions regarding oral and general health as well as other behavioral factors, such as tobacco use and frequency of visits to the dentist, to determine your risk of developing gum disease and possible increased risk of heart disease. The test can be found by going to: http://service.previser.com/aap/default.aspx
The test is strongly advised for anyone who is already in a higher risk category for heart disease or is concerned with other potential problems associated with poor dental health.

Of course, you can always reduce your chances of developing gum disease by simply brushing and flossing daily, as well as seeing your dentist on a regular basis. Now, that’s advice you can always take to heart!

Dr. James Harding practices dentistry at the Harding Dental Center, in Avon. He is a medical provider for the US Ski and Snowboard Team and is on the teaching staff at the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies. For more information, call 970-845-9980 or go to www.vailsmiles.com