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

 
 

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

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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. 

Illustration of dentist sitting and talking about patient about connection between heart health and oral health
 
 

3X

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

a heart showing its beating rythm

31.1%

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

piggy bank with a coin going into it

2 x 2

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

a toothbrush brusing the top of a tooth

28.6%

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

hospital with a cross on top of the building
 
 

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. 

Illustration of germs grouped together
 
 

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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smile generation magazine issue 7
 
 
 

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. 

Close up image of an individual looking happy while brushing their teeth
 
 

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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The short answer is, yes, oral health can impact your heart health. This is because things such as infections can spread when not treated. For instance, if you have an oral infection and do not get it treated, it can spread through your bloodstream to other areas of your body, including your heart. This is why oral health is so important. When you don’t have proper oral hygiene and do not visit your dentist regularly, it can lead to infections and other issues in the mouth. And when they are not treated, it can cause poor health in other parts of your body.

 

Learn more in our blog article,

"Empower Yourself with National Wear Red Day."

There is a link between your oral health and heart disease; therefore, good oral health can decrease the chances of heart disease. You have probably already heard that things such as exercising, diet, and a lack of tobacco products can help your heart. But did you know that healthy teeth and a healthy mouth can also reduce the risk of heart problems? Since your oral health and heart health are connected, easy steps you can take to prevent heart disease include good oral hygiene and regular visits to your dentist.

 

Learn more in our blog article, "Empower Yourself with National Wear Red Day."

Your oral health is linked to your whole-body health, so the effects of poor oral health can affect more than just your dentist bills. Studies have linked gum disease and inflammation with a range of other health issues, including heart disease, diabetes, and even Alzheimer's. The healthcare costs for these diseases can range from several thousand dollars per year to over $60,0000. To keep your doctor's bills down, it's important to take special care of your oral health!

 

To find out more, read our blog article "Mouth, Heart, and Wallet: Good Oral Health Can Be Good for Your Wallet."

Poor oral health is linked with high blood pressure and vice versa. When your gums are inflamed from gingivitis, the inflammation can spread throughout the body, causing damage to your heart health. High blood pressure can also reduce the flow of blood to your gums, which can contribute to the development of gum disease. The connection between oral health and whole-body health is called the Mouth-Body Connection. You can't have good whole-body health without good oral health!

 

Find out more about the connection in our blog article "What Does Gum Disease Have to Do With Blood Pressure?"