You probably know that brushing and flossing your teeth can help you prevent bad breath, cavities, and plaque. But, did you know that gum disease may affect your heart? A recent study has said this to be true. A 2005 edition of the journal Circulation, says that “taking good care of your teeth and gums could prevent you from having a stroke or heart attack.”
The link between heart disease and gum disease has been studied for years, but no concrete evidence has been found. Many experts in the medical field believe that the two diseases are connected in a way that the bacteria causing in gum disease can travel to the arteries and cause the arteries to swell and narrow, blocking the flow of blood and oxygen to the heart. Once the arteries are narrowed and the blood carrying oxygen is blocked, heart disease may occur.
Because of this belief, many have claimed that people with gum disease have a two times greater chance of developing heart disease as much as those who don’t have gum disease.
The link between the two is still currently being researched.
However, there’s nothing wrong also with considering a healthy oral practice. Even if gum disease isn’t actually causing heart disease, the connection between the two could still be important.