{"id":968,"date":"2019-05-29T20:42:40","date_gmt":"2019-05-29T20:42:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/blog\/?p=968"},"modified":"2019-05-29T20:42:40","modified_gmt":"2019-05-29T20:42:40","slug":"fact-or-fiction-is-gum-disease-linked-with-heart-problems","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/blog\/fact-or-fiction-is-gum-disease-linked-with-heart-problems\/","title":{"rendered":"Fact or Fiction: Is Gum Disease Linked With Heart Problems?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Heart<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

According to a study in the Journal of Dental Research,<\/em> nearly half of all adults in the United\nStates have some form of gum disease, also known as periodontal\ndisease<\/a>. If you\u2019re in this group, chances are you\u2019re already concerned with\nthe swelling, bleeding, and threat of tooth loss that comes with the condition.\nBut could it be a sign of worse to come? There are many studies that show a\nstrong connection between heart disease and gum disease; here\u2019s what you need\nto know about this link and the risks involved. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

What is the Link Between Gum and Heart Disease?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

First, remember that gum disease involves the inflammation\nof the gums due to bacterial infection from plaque and tartar. The disease\nstarts as gingivitis, which causes redness, swelling, and bleeding; if it\u2019s not\ntreated quickly enough, it can become periodontitis, which can lead to the gums\npulling away from the teeth, causing small pockets of pus and bacteria to form.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are many blood vessels in your gums, so when they\nbecome infected, bacteria can easily move into the bloodstream. Some studies\nhave shown that this may lead to them forming deposits near arteries, which can\nlead to them hardening and limiting the blood flow to the heart. This increases\nthe risk of heart attack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s also been suggested that bacteria from gum disease can\nlead to inflammation throughout the body, which can lead to clogged arteries\nand stroke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can Gum Disease Cause Heart Disease?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

According to findings published by Harvard Medical School, people\nwith gum disease are two or three times more at risk for heart attacks, stroke,\nand other heart-related conditions. Despite this, a direct causal link hasn\u2019t\nbeen confirmed yet. Some conditions, such as diabetes, increase your risk for\nboth gum disease and heart disease. Smoking and poor dietary habits can also\nhave a negative effect on different areas of your body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That being said, good oral health has been linked to having\ngood health overall; it\u2019s important to make sure your gums remain healthy to\nlessen the risk of serious problems in your mouth and the rest of your body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Can I Avoid or Treat Gum Disease?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The best way to avoid gum disease is to practice good oral\nhygiene so as to avoid plaque buildup. Brush and floss at least twice a day,\nand remember to eat plenty of foods with nutrients that can help your teeth\n(such as vitamin C in many fruits and vegetables) while limiting intake of\nsugary foods such as candy. Keeping your regular visit to your dentist is also\nimportant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If gum disease does develop despite your efforts, your\ndentist can perform treatments such as tooth scaling and root planing to remove\nthe infection. Call for an appointment right away if your gums become swollen\nor start bleeding. A healthy mouth is essential, and it just might help you keep\nyour heart healthy as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About the Author<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Dr. J. Peter St. Clair aims to help patients understand\ntheir dental health and creates a supportive and caring environment geared\ntowards increasing the quality of life. He provides a number of treatments for\ngum disease, including tooth scaling, root planing, and minor surgical\nprocedures. To ask about periodontal treatment options at his practice in\nRowley, visit his website<\/a> or\ncall (978) 948-2030.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

According to a study in the Journal of Dental Research, nearly half of all adults in the United States have some form of gum disease, also known as periodontal disease. If you\u2019re in this group, chances are you\u2019re already concerned with the swelling, bleeding, and threat of tooth loss that comes with the condition. But could it be a sign of worse to come? There are many studies that show a strong connection between heart […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-968","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/968","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=968"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/968\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":970,"href":"https:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/968\/revisions\/970"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=968"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=968"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=968"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}