There has always been a suspected link between heart disease and gum disease but the evidence of recent studies has seemingly conclusively proved this connection. Patients with bad cases of gum disease were twice as likely to suffer from serious heart conditions, so cleaning your teeth and having healthy gums really could save your life.
The link between gum disease and heart disease comes from the transfer of the oral infection into the blood stream. Once this infection has spread into the blood vessels it can cause them to narrow putting enormous pressure on the heart, as it then has to work harder to pump blood around the body. In mild cases this can cause high blood pressure but if the heart becomes so overworked it can suffer a potentially fatal attack.
Gum disease is caused by a lack of proper oral hygiene in the mouth. Poor or ineffective oral hygiene allows bacteria to build up and form plaque. This filmy substance clings to the teeth and gums releasing damaging acids that break down tooth enamel and cause gum tissue to swell and become painful. In more serious cases of gum disease, known as periodontitis, gum tissue can become so infected that it bleeds and spreads the infection around the body. It also causes gum tissue to die resulting in tooth loss.
The good news about gum disease however, is that in most cases it is completely preventable with an improved regime of oral hygiene. Central Leeds dentists can demonstrate how to effectively clean your teeth to reduce your chances of gum disease, helping to keep your mouth and your heart healthy.
Tags: gum disease, healthy gums, heart disease, oral hygiene, oral infection