Gum Disease and Heart Disease: A Two-Way Street

Having periodontal (gum) disease roughly doubles the risk that a person also will suffer coronary artery disease.¹ What’s the connection?

One theory is that bacteria in the mouth migrate into the blood stream.¹ There they may attach to fatty plaques in the blood vessels of the heart and help form clots.¹ When these clots block blood flow to the heart, a heart attack can happen.¹ Another theory is that the inflammation caused by gum disease promotes plaque formation in the blood vessels.¹ There also could be some factor, as yet unidentified, that predisposes people with gum disease to have a heart attack.

Gum disease also can make existing heart conditions worse.^1,2 For example, oral infections such as gum disease put people with mitral valve prolapse at risk for infective endocarditis.³ This is an inflammation of the heart lining and valves.³ People at risk for such heart problems should be especially careful to prevent and/or treat gum disease.³ In addition, their dentists may advise them to prevent a heart infection by taking antibiotics before certain procedures.¹

But the connection also goes the other way, with heart disease treatment contributing to gum disease. For example, certain heart drugs can cause dry mouth, increased plaque, or enlarged gum tissue. These conditions may lead to gum infections.³ Be sure to work with your heart doctor and your periodontist to keep your heart and gums healthy for years to come.

¹ “Gum Disease Links to Heart Disease and Stroke.”American Academy of Periodontology, May 8, 2008. www.perio.org/consumer/mbc.heart.htm Accessed 2008.

² “Cardiovascular Disease, Inflammation, and Periodontal Infection.” D.W. Paquette et al. Periodontology 2000. 2007, vol. 44, pp. 113–26. www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/117988955/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0 Accessed 2008.

³ “Ask Your Periodontist About Periodontal Disease & Heart Disease.” American Academy of Periodontology, 1999. www.perio.org/commerce05/brochures/hd_h.htm Accessed 2008.