Brush Up on Dental Health: Researchers Link Unhealthy Mouths to Heart Disease

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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most of us (about 91 percent, to be exact) have some form of tooth decay, and half of all adults in the United States suffer from periodontal disease (a serious form of gum disease). But recently, researchers have started to suspect that unhealthy mouths are more than just an embarrassing problem. Periodontal disease could be linked to a number of serious illnesses, including heart disease and diabetes.

According to a recent report from CNN, studies from the American Dental Association found that people are more likely to develop heart disease and diabetes if they also have periodontal disease, and they suspect that inflammation is the cause. When you suffer from gum disease, plaque builds up on your teeth, and because this plaque is filled with bacteria, it kicks your body’s inflammatory response into high gear. Your gums may become swollen and bleed during regular brushings or flossing. Scientists and dental health experts hypothesize that this inflammation spreads beyond the mouth, potentially impacting arteries and other organs.

This research is still in its early stages, and scientists haven’t yet found a causal link between oral health and other diseases. Part of the problem researchers face is that those who suffer most frequently from periodontal disease are people who older, overweight, or who smoke or drink alcohol. These factors also increase the risk of heart disease and diabetes.

Another theory is that people who have diabetes have higher rates of periodontal disease because the high blood sugar levels in the body help plaque bacteria spread. This bacteria feeds on sugar, which is why dentists recommend brushing at least twice a day to get rid of excess plaque and sugar on the teeth.

Regardless of whether researchers prove a causal link between periodontal disease and other diseases, dentists and doctors agree that taking care of your teeth can help combat their effects. For example, kidney disease, which is common in people with diabetes, may be worsened by the inflammation associated with periodontal disease and tooth decay.

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Additionally, orthopedic surgeons have long suspected a link between gum disease and increased infection rates in prosthetic joints. Many surgeons refuse to perform joint replacement surgery on patients who have infections in their mouths or who suffer from severe periodontal disease, because these infections can easily spread.

Increasingly, evidence is showing that having a healthy mouth can go a long way toward preventing and treating diseases outside of the mouth. The CDC recommends brushing twice per day and flossing at least once per day to keep your teeth and gums healthy.