How Dental Health Can Affect Heart Health
When a person has periodontitis, advanced periodontal (gum) disease, the mouth is like a battlefield. Millions of bacteria are fighting their way in, taking shelter in the soft tissues of the gums. Then, they fire their nasty, infectious strains through the blood stream. Initial losses include teeth, which may fall out. Unexpected victims, however, may be the arteries and, ultimately, the heart.
Although there has been no definitive proof that gum disease causes heart disease, the links between the two are becoming stronger. If you have periodontal disease, it could be an early warning sign of cardiovascular disease, the #1 killer of Americans. In fact, one out of four people in the U.S. dies of heart disease every year – a staggering 610,000 people. Isn’t that reason enough to heed all possible warnings?
