Oral Health – Heart Health
"What is the relationship?"
Periodontal disease is one of the of the most prevalent diseases of human kind. The World Health Organization shows that periodontal disease affects more than 85% of adults. Most adults do not follow adequate home care but even for those who regularly brush and floss, they still have a problem with plaque control. The fact is that there are more bacteria living in one person’s mouth than the number of people that live on earth. Inflammed and unhealthy gums are diagnosed by a dentist or dental hygienist upon your dental visit. They measure the pocket depth between the gum and the tooth. Healthy gums do not look red or swollen, nor do they bleed. If this exists in your mouth, know that your body is not healthy.
There are numerous diseases that have been linked to having an unhealthy mouth. Diseases can range from arteriosclerosis, diabetes, arthritis, respiratory infection, kidney disease and pancreatic, head and neck cancers. Cardiovascular disease is one of the top illnesses associated with gum disease. Arteriosclerosis has been recognized as an inflammatory disease that in association with plaque formation with the artery, is one of the leading causes of death around the world. Researchers have been able to identify the bad bacteria present in a deep periodontal pocket is also found in the plaque removed from clogged arteries. Blood samples have been taken and these were found to be identical to the oral bacteria. Medical researchers now know that the bacteria in periodontal disease invades the rest of the body by entering the blood stream. These oral bacteria (pathogens) also result in an inflammatory process. This inflammatory process affects the coronary system leading to cardiovascular disease and stroke.
