A recent research has proposed the possibility of a link between cardiovascular disease and gum disease. The study posits that, people who suffer from periodontal diseases are more prone to developing coronary artery disease.
According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, periodontal or gum disease varies from simple gum problem to severe disease processes which can lead to major damage of the bone and soft tissues that support the teeth.
In the study, researchers selected 657 people without any known cardiac diseasecondition. Furthermore, the researchers identified that participants of the study who had higher blood levels of disease-causing bacteria in the oral cavity, were more prone to have atherosclerosis (plaque or hardening of the coronary arteries in the neck), which can cause stroke. It was also discovered that, bacteria found in the mouth could enter into the blood circulation, leading to health complications. A hypothesis that seeks to explain this phenomenon is that, bacteria native to the mouth on entering the blood stream, adhere to the fatty plaques in the blood stream, and could lead to blockages. These blockages could be the underlying causes of cardiovascular diseases in an individual who also has periodontal disease.
A foremost expert and past president of the American Academy of Periodontology, Gordon Douglass, believes that there certainly is a connection between gum diseases and cardiovascular disease, even though current research has not clearly identified the biochemical processes behind the link.
So, if you are suffering from any symptoms of painful or bleeding gums, visit your dentist because it could be an indication of a heart disease.
