More Evidence Ties Gum Disease With Heart Disease

Black people are more likely to have periodontitis than other races. Now an ongoing Swedish study has found that gum disease periodontitis is also much more common in first-time heart attack patients than in a group of healthy people

New research offers further evidence of a link between gum disease and heart disease.

In this follow-up study, the researchers examined whether gum disease was associated with an increased risk of new heart problems in both heart attack survivors and healthy people of the same age and sex, and living in the same area.

“The risk of experiencing a cardiovascular event during follow-up was higher in participants with periodontitis, increasing in parallel with the severity. This was particularly apparent in patients who had already experienced a [heart attack],” study author Giulia Ferrannini says.

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The researchers suspect that damage to the gum tissue in people with gum disease may allow germs to enter the bloodstream. “This could accelerate harmful changes to the blood vessels and/or enhance systemic inflammation that is harmful to the vessels,” Ferrannini adds.

In total, the study included nearly 1,600 participants with an average age of 62. Dental examinations between 2010 and 2014 showed that

985 had good dental health, 489 had moderate periodontitis and 113 had severe periodontitis.

During an average follow-up of just over six years, people with gum disease were 49% more likely to die from any cause, have a nonfatal heart attack or stroke, or to develop severe heart failure.

The risk of those outcomes increased with the severity of gum disease, according to the study presented Friday at a virtual meeting of the European Society of Cardiology. Such research is considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.

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When assessed separately, the relationship between gum disease severity and the risk of negative outcomes was significant only for those who had experienced a heart attack in the past.

“Our study suggests that dental screening programs including regular check-ups and education on proper dental hygiene may help to prevent first and subsequent heart events,” Ferrannini concludes.

Preventing periodontal disease

Try the following tips to prevent periodontal disease:

• Brush your teeth and tongue after meals to remove food debris and plaque trapped between your gums and teeth.
• Floss at least once a day to remove food and plaque that your toothbrush can’t reach.
• Use mouthwash to remove any remaining food particles and plaque that may have been missed by brushing and flossing.
• You should know your risk. Age, smoking, diet and genetics can all increase your risk for periodontal disease. If you have an increased risk, you should see a dental professional. They can look at your teeth, plaque level, gums, bite, bone structure and other risk factors for periodontal disease and identify any symptoms of gum disease. Early detection is key to protecting your teeth and gums.