{"id":476,"date":"2023-02-03T17:52:21","date_gmt":"2023-02-03T17:52:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.byarsdental.com\/blog\/?p=476"},"modified":"2023-03-20T17:52:32","modified_gmt":"2023-03-20T17:52:32","slug":"the-startling-link-between-gum-disease-and-heart-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.byarsdental.com\/blog\/2023\/02\/the-startling-link-between-gum-disease-and-heart-health\/","title":{"rendered":"The Startling Link Between Gum Disease and Heart Health"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Any physician will tell you that one of the most important things that a person can do for their overall health is to take good care of their heart. Heart disease is the number one cause of death among adults in the US, responsible for well over 600,000 fatalities in 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many of the most common risk factors for cardiovascular illness are well understood by most people, but did you know that gum disease<\/a> is often linked to an increased risk of heart problems? If you want to know why that is, here\u2019s a little bit more information about the nature of the condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

What Studies Show<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While this information may be surprising to some people, the connection between the heart and the gums has been subject to extensive research over the past decade or so. One recent analysis of contemporary studies found that gum disease increased people\u2019s risk for heart problems by around 20 percent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Due to this overwhelming medical consensus, the American Dental Association and the American Heart Association acknowledge the link between gum disease and cardiovascular illness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Does Gum Disease Lead to Heart Disease?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It hasn\u2019t been conclusively proven how the two conditions are connected, but one of the most common theories revolves around the bacteria that cause gum disease. When periodontal disease becomes advanced it can cause the gums to pull away from the teeth, creating \u201cpockets\u201d that bacteria can move into.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The theory goes that bacteria that grow in these pockets can eventually seep into the bloodstream. These bacteria then form plaque deposits that clog up arteries, increasing your risk for heart disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Deal with Gum Disease<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re interested in protecting your heart, preventing gum disease is a vital part of doing that. You can:<\/p>\n\n\n\n