{"id":721,"date":"2023-05-10T03:36:00","date_gmt":"2023-05-10T03:36:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.enclavedental.com\/blog\/?p=721"},"modified":"2023-05-10T13:58:17","modified_gmt":"2023-05-10T13:58:17","slug":"gum-disease-and-heart-health-understanding-the-connection","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.enclavedental.com\/blog\/2023\/05\/10\/gum-disease-and-heart-health-understanding-the-connection\/","title":{"rendered":"Gum Disease and Heart Health: Understanding the Connection"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. To protect themselves, many people watch what they eat and stick to a regular exercise routine. Certainly, those habits are excellent. But did you know that your oral health<\/a> can also have a bearing on your heart? This blog post examines the connection between gum disease and heart health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Gum Disease and Heart Health: What Does the Research Say?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A 2014 study looked at people who had been diagnosed with both heart disease and gum disease. The researchers discovered that individuals who received adequate care for their gum disease had cardiovascular care costs that were 10 \u2013 40% lower than individuals who did not receive the same level of oral care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Separate research, which involved a review of several different studies, concluded that gum disease can increase the risk of heart disease by around 20%. It has even been suggested in some professional circles that people with gum disease have two to three times the risk<\/a> of suffering from a serious cardiovascular event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Are They Connected?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Of course, the above information points to a strong correlation between gum disease and heart disease, but it does not prove that the gum disease actually causes <\/em>heart problems. In some cases, shared risk factors, such as smoking and a poor diet, may be responsible for these two conditions occurring together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the belief that gum disease is an independent risk factor for heart disease has solid evidence to back it up. In fact, bacteria from gum disease can get into the bloodstream and increase the body\u2019s overall burden of inflammation. The inflammation, in turn, can lead to a dangerous narrowing of the arteries. Gum disease has also been linked to infections that could result in a heart attack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Should You Do?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Caring well for your gums can be a valuable addition to your heart-healthy routine. Here are some tips to help you out:<\/p>\n\n\n\n