The expressions, “My heart was in my throat” or “in my mouth” have often been used in years past to describe a feeling of extreme nervousness or fear.
Increasingly, researchers are finding that there may be much more to this old phrase than describing a simple case of the jitters. The health of your heart may be directly affected by the health of your mouth.
Sound crazy? Read on …
There are two basic connections between the condition of your heart and the health of your mouth. First, multiple studies have shown that people who have moderate or advanced periodontal (gum) disease are almost twice as likely to also have heart disease than those who have healthy gums. Second, the condition of your oral health can reveal clues about your overall health.
A proper dental exam and review of your medical history can help your dentist and hygienist pick up early warning signs of other diseases like diabetes, cancer, autoimmune diseases and heart disease.
Since February is American Heart Month, and is coming on fast, this article will focus on the oral-systemic connection as it relates to diseases of the heart and blood vessels.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD), which includes heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure – is the No. 1 killer of men and women in the United States. In fact, heart disease kills more women than all forms of cancer combined. Cardiovascular disease costs this country more than $300 billion each year. Controlling risk factors that include diet, exercise, smoking, obesity, blood pressure and cholesterol can reduce the death and disability rate from CVD. Most of us have seen that list before and understand its importance. An additional risk factor for CVD that most people have been unaware of, until now, is periodontal disease.
So what are the signs of periodontal disease? Red, swollen gums. Bleeding of any kind when you brush or floss your teeth. Gums that seem to be shrinking or pulling away from your teeth. A bad taste or pus when you push on a swollen area of gum. Loose teeth or pain when you bite down or chew. These are all signs of an active periodontal infection. In this situation, there is oral bacteria circulating in your bloodstream, which means that anywhere this infected blood travels, including the lining of your heart and blood vessels, is exposed to disease causing bacteria.
Studies have demonstrated that the specific oral bacteria strains that cause gum disease have been discovered in the infected lining of diseased blood vessels. Bacteremia is the technical term for infected blood. Untreated periodontal disease can lead to bacteremia.
How does that happen? When the bacterial plaque is not regularly and thoroughly removed from the surfaces of your teeth, it settles into the shallow pocket of tissue around each tooth. Those tissues are very porous. Once the bacteria gains a foothold, your body’s immune system inappropriately and excessively responds, resulting in chronic inflammation and a loss of the “seal” in the tissues to keep bacteria out. The bacteria is able to get past the tissue barrier and inside the blood vessel system and circulate throughout the body.
In our practice, we have recently added a tool to help us treat periodontal disease. With a simple and relatively inexpensive diagnostic saliva test, we are able to identify the type and concentration of specific pathogenic bacteria in your mouth that are known to cause periodontal disease. This allows us to better assess your individual risk and personalize your treatment options for a more predictable outcome.
Another saliva test identifies individual genetic susceptibility to periodontal disease and enables us to identify patients that are at increased risk for more severe periodontal infections due to an excessive immune response.
These tests allow us to identify which of our patients may be at particular risk, based upon a review of their personal and family health history, as well as an assessment of the current condition of their gums.
For instance, if you have a family history of cardiovascular disease, and have periodontal disease, it may be particularly important for you to get treated properly and thoroughly as soon as possible, due to your genetic susceptibility.
Researchers and scientists continue to come up with sophisticated new ways to help diagnose and treat a variety of health conditions that affect the quality and length of our lives.
In a series of articles in the coming year, we are going to provide you with some information that may lead you to believe that some of the most powerful tools you have at your disposal to fight disease and protect and improve your overall health are in your bathroom; your toothbrush and dental floss. Stay tuned for more articles throughout the year on diabetes, cancer, men’s health, women’s health, and many other topics, and their relationship to a healthy mouth.
The Oral-Systemic Connection. Your dental office may be playing a bigger role in helping you stay healthy than anyone could have imagined a few short years ago. Stay tuned for future articles.
Stuart Rich, DDS, is the owner of Simply Smiles, a general dental practice in Auburn, and enjoys writing on a variety of dental topics. He and his team, including associate Dr. Jennifer Fields, treat patients of all ages. He also assists sleep specialist physicians in providing an alternative to the CPAP machine for those with Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Should you have further questions about dentistry or sleep apnea, you may visit them on the web at www.SimplySmilesAuburn.com or www.SleepSolutionsNW.com. You may also email us at info@SimplySmilesAuburn.com, or call 253-939-6900.
