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Gum Disease
Gum Disease and Heart Attacks—Is There a Connection?
There is growing evidence that the presence of periodontal (gum)
disease can be linked to the incidence of coronary heart disease.
Gums infected with periodontal disease are toxic reservoirs of disease-causing
bacteria. The bacteria hide in pockets next to the teeth, where the
gums have pulled away from the tooth surface. When gums are this infected,
they frequently bleed.
Researchers at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis recently
discovered that bleeding gums common in severe gum disease provide
an open doorway for plaque bacteria to enter the bloodstream. This
bacteria, Streptococcus sanguis, can cause blood clots that block arteries
and trigger heart attacks.
"Severe periodontitis is the equivalent of about nine square
inches of chronic wound around the teeth," said Dr. Mark Herzberg,
director of the study. "It offers considerable opportunity over
time for these bacteria to enter the blood."
More heartache from gum disease
Other studies have shown that plaque bacteria entering the bloodstream
through infected gums might also cause a potentially fatal heart disease
called infective endocarditis. This is a bacterial infection that causes
the sac around the heart to become inflamed. Herzberg has shown that
the S. sanguis plaque bacteria is one of the most frequent causes of
endocarditis.
More than just speculation
In a study of 400 older men, researchers in Michigan found that those
with severe gum disease were four and one-half times more likely to
have coronary heart disease than those without gum disease.
The lesson to be learned? Brush, floss, and see your dentist regularly. Because
we now know that good oral health can prevent more than just gum disease.
Sources: Dr. Walter Loesche, "The Link Between Systemic
Conditions and Diseases and Oral Health," University of Michigan.
Dr. Eugene J. Whitaker, Temple University School of Dentistry.
The Academy of General Dentistry
The American Academy of Periodontology
The American Dental Association
American Academy of Neurology - 51st Annual Meeting in Toronto, Canada, April,
1999.
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