{"id":40,"date":"2019-05-27T13:31:14","date_gmt":"2019-05-27T13:31:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dentaldynamics.net\/blog\/?p=40"},"modified":"2019-06-07T13:31:47","modified_gmt":"2019-06-07T13:31:47","slug":"gum-disease-and-the-heart","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dentaldynamics.net\/blog\/2019\/05\/27\/gum-disease-and-the-heart\/","title":{"rendered":"The Truth Behind Gum Disease and Its Link to Heart Disease"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Heart<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The CDC estimates that about a quarter of all deaths per\nyear in the United States are due to heart disease; that\u2019s roughly 610,000\npeople annually. You\u2019ve probably heard about various risk factors that can\naffect your cardiovascular health, but did you know that one possible\ncontributor could be in your mouth? In recent years, many studies have found a\nlink between gum disease and heart problems; here\u2019s what you need to know about\nthis unexpected connection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

What is Gum Disease?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The bacteria in your mouth that cause cavities can also infect\nyour gums; this is the condition called gum disease (sometimes referred to\nperiodontal disease). The earliest form is gingivitis, which can be recognized\nby bleeding, swelling, and redness. At this stage, the infection can be\nreversed if treated quickly, but if left alone it could lead to severe\nperiodontitis that can spread the infection to your teeth and eventually cause\nyou to lose them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How is Gum Disease Related to Heart Health?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

According to Harvard, people with gum disease are two to\nthree times more likely to suffer from heart attacks and stroke. Many studies\nhave found a similar relation, to the point that the American Dental Association\nand the American Heart Association have acknowledged it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This could be due to bacteria being able to enter the\nbloodstream via the vessels in the gums. From there they are able to travel\nthroughout the body and cause damage to other areas such as the arteries; if\nthe arteries become hardened (a condition known as atherosclerosis), the risk\nof heart failure becomes higher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, it has yet to be proven that gum disease is a\ndirect cause of heart problems. The link could be due to the fact that they can\nhave similar causes. Diabetes, for example, can make your mouth more\nsusceptible to infection and can make heart problems more likely. Poor health\nhabits like smoking can also have a negative impact on multiple parts of your\nbody.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Can Healthy Gums Protect My Overall Health?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Whether or not gum disease is a factor for heart disease, it\u2019s\ntrue that your oral health can eventually affect your overall health. An\ninfection in your gums or in your teeth can abscess, meaning it forms a pocket\nof bacteria-filled pus; if that happens, the infection may eventually spread to\nother parts of your body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For this reason, it\u2019s important to practice good oral\nhygiene. Keep up your daily brushing and flossing routine; mouthwash may help\nas well. Be aware of any changes in your mouth and make a dental appointment to\naddress any worrisome symptoms. And of course, your twice-a-year trips to the\ndentist for preventive\ncare<\/a> can make a big difference in keeping your teeth and gums clean and\nhealthy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About the Practice<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u00a0At Dental Dynamics, 4 specialists \u2013 a dedicated general dentist, a periodontist, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, and an endodontist \u2013 combine their skills to provide comprehensive dentistry under one roof. In addition to regular check-ups and preventive cleanings, periodontal therapy is available for patients suffering from gum disease. To make an appointment, visit their website<\/a> or call (847) 329-9801. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The CDC estimates that about a quarter of all deaths per year in the United States are due to heart disease; that\u2019s roughly 610,000 people annually. You\u2019ve probably heard about various risk factors that can affect your cardiovascular health, but did you know that one possible contributor could be in your mouth? In recent years, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dentaldynamics.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dentaldynamics.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dentaldynamics.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dentaldynamics.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dentaldynamics.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=40"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.dentaldynamics.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":42,"href":"https:\/\/www.dentaldynamics.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40\/revisions\/42"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dentaldynamics.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dentaldynamics.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=40"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dentaldynamics.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=40"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}