Heart Health

Icon of a human heart on a red background

You can’t floss your heart, but you can floss your gums – and that helps both.

Your heart works hard. Learn how managing your oral health can help you take care of it.

50% of heart attacks may be triggered by an infection found in the mouth.

Circulation, 2013

Cavities and Tooth Decay: Everything You Need to Know

Everyone gets one set of adult teeth. So exercising good oral habits is critical to make sure they last. Part of having a healthy mouth is cavity and tooth decay prevention. Here's what you need to kn

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Smile Makeover: Types & Costs For a Beautiful Smile

It is important to care for the health of your teeth and gums with a daily oral care routine and regular preventative dental appointments. These tasks can help you prevent decay, gum disease, and

Stock photo of woman making a heart shape using her hands

Healthy Gums: Maintaining Good Oral Health

The teeth and tongue usually take center stage when people think of anything to do with the mouth. But maintaining healthy gums is also an important part of any oral care regimen. Healthy vs. Unhealth

See a Dentist Without Insurance: Learn Your Options

Nearly 67 million Americans — about 20% of the population — don’t have dental coverage. If you’re one of them, you may not go to the dentist as often as you’d like to. Whether you’re interested i

Tooth Plaque: What It Is & How to Remove It

Everyone wants to have a nice, shiny smile. But showing off those straight, pearly whites doesn't mean that your mouth isn't in need of oral care. Chances are, plaque is lurking on your teeth. So it's

Large & Small Teeth: How to Fix Them

A smile speaks volumes to others and has a direct impact on one’s self-esteem – it can project confidence or reservation, exude joy, or be withheld due to insecurity. Disparity in tooth size can be a

Sensitive Teeth: Causes & Treatment

Have you ever taken a moment at the end of a long day to sit down with a bowl of your favorite ice cream, only to be greeted with searing pain at the first bite? As you stare longingly at the full bow

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The Connection Between Gums + Heart Disease

Recent studies have shown oral health directly affects the heart. Treating gum disease can not only reduce the plaque on your teeth, but also the deposits that build up on the walls of arteries. Let’s take it a step further and talk about your smile. Taking good care of your teeth does more than help you achieve a healthier, more attractive smile. It impacts your risk of heart attack, stroke, cardiovascular disease and other cardiovascular issues. This is the thread that connects gum disease to heart disease. Make sure your heart isn’t working harder than it should be. Keep things healthy with a fit oral hygiene routine.

3X

People with gum disease are 3x more likely to suffer from heart attack, stroke or other cardiovascular issues.

31.1%

Heart disease patients spend 31.1% less on healthcare costs with regular dentist visits.

2 x 2

Brushing two minutes, twice a day can lower the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

28.6%

Heart disease patients who completed periodontal treatment saw a 28.6% reduction in annual hospitalization.

The Role of Bacteria and Inflammation

When you think about heart disease, you probably have a checklist: heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular disease. There’s also a list for causes: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking. One thing that isn’t usually on the list is chronic inflammation. Having poor oral health, including gingivitis, gum infection and gum disease, causes bacteria to form and build up, leading to inflammation and infections. The combination of bacteria and chronic inflammation can result in a weakened immune system and ability to fight these diseases.

Show Your Smile and Heart Some Love

Read more about your heart and the Mouth-Body Connection with this special issue of the Generations of Smiles magazine.

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Brush your way to a healthier heart!

Studies show that adverse effects on your heart from gum disease are due to five high-risk oral bacteria. The main pathogen in chronic gum disease is – brace yourself – Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg). Say that five times fast!

The good news? Your Smile Generation-trusted dentist can help. The most common bacteria associated with heart disease can now be identified through a simple salivary diagnostic test that you can take in the dental office. The better news? Your daily oral hygiene routine helps too. Brushing your teeth with fluoride toothpaste twice a day for at least two minutes could lower the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Flossing your teeth as part of your daily oral hygiene routine can also reduce your risk for heart disease.

Got questions?

Smile Generation-trusted dentists make understanding the Mouth-Body Connection simple. Call us at 1-800-SMILEGEN to get started.

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Heart Health

The Connection Between Gums + Heart Disease

3X

31.1%

2 x 2