There are all sorts of connections in the body between two seemingly unrelated aspects, and one such link is that between oral health and cardiovascular disease.
It may seem off to consider that how well your take care of your teeth affects whether or not you are at a greater risk of cardiovascular disease, but there are some important considerations to know about. With February being Heart Health Month, it’s important to understand all the ways you can benefit the health of your heart and prevent cardiovascular disease, and one way is by taking care of your oral health. Let’s further investigate this connection.
The Link Between Oral Health and Cardiovascular Disease
Many studies have observed that people with poor oral health have higher rates of cardiovascular problems. One study asked participants about their toothbrushing behavior, and they found that those who brushed less than twice a day for less than two minutes were three times more likely to develop heart disease.
While the connection between poor oral health and cardiovascular disease has been a consistent observation, scientists are less sure about the reasoning behind this link. In fact, it’s highly likely that there are many factors at play, and as such, there have been multiple theories proposed.
Traveling Bacteria
Research supporting this theory has found the remnants of oral bacteria within plaque-filled blood vessels that
However, antibiotic use has not proven to be an effective way to reduce cardiovascular risk. Since antibiotics serve to eradicate bacteria, if bacteria are behind the relationship between oral health and heart health, there is likely more behind the story than scientists have been able to ascertain thus far.
Overactive Immune System
Other theories propose that it may not be the bacteria that causes the problem but instead the body’s immune response. When faced with an unwanted contagion, such as bacteria, one aspect of the immune response is inflammation, which may cause the cascade of vascular damage the leads to cardiovascular disease. This aligns with other evidence of how inflammation affects heart disease risk.
High Blood Pressure
Yet another connection between these two diseases may be related to hypertension, or high blood pressure. High blood pressure is one of
A recently published study found that gum disease worsens blood pressure, resulting in high blood pressure. In addition, gum disease also interferes with the medications used to treat hypertension. So, those who have high blood pressure and gum disease will have a more challenging time managing their blood pressure with medication alone, increasing the likelihood of chronic high blood pressure.
Overall Health Practices
So, the connection between oral and heart health may not be due to the diseases themselves, but more so that someone who has one disease might also have the other because they are not practicing good health habits all around. Here are some Heart Healthy Habits you should follow.
No Connection
Yet another theory is that there is no link between oral health and cardiovascular disease, but they are instead connected by an outside
One large study that investigated these outside factors found that, when considering smoking, the connection between oral health and cardiovascular disease was essentially nonexistent. Then again, other studies did find a connection even after considering smoking and other risk factors, so the evidence is scattered here.
Final Remarks
While researchers are still unsure of the exact reasoning behind the relationship between oral health and heart disease, this connection is still observed in many different studies. The bacteria responsible for gum disease may lead to cardiovascular disease, or the observed connection might be because of shared risk factors that contribute to both diseases. It’s also possible that it could be any combination of these theories, which is evident by some studies finding connections in one regard while others find relationships in another way.
No matter the reason for the connection, it is still important to acknowledge that this relationship exists. So, ensure that you are brushing your teeth for at least two minutes twice a day to promote good oral hygiene and protect the health of your heart.
References
Batty, G., Jung, K., Mok, Y., Lee, S., Back, J., Lee, S., & Jee, S. (2018). Oral health and later coronary heart disease: Cohort study of one million people. European Journal Of Preventive Cardiology, 25(6), 598-605. doi: 10.1177/2047487318759112
Pietropaoli, D., Del Pinto, R., Ferri, C., Wright, J., Giannoni, M., Ortu, E., & Monaco, A. (2018). Poor Oral Health and Blood Pressure Control Among US Hypertensive Adults. Hypertension, 72(6), 1365-1373. doi: 10.1161/hypertensionaha.118.11528
Sanchez, P., Everett, B., Salamonson, Y., Redfern, J., Ajwani, S., & Bhole, S. et al. (2019). The oral health status, behaviors, and knowledge of patients with cardiovascular disease in Sydney Australia: a cross-sectional survey. BMC Oral Health, 19(1). doi: 10.1186/s12903-018-0697-x
Sanchez, P., Everett, B., Salamonson, Y., Ajwani, S., Bhole, S., & Bishop, J. et al. (2017). Oral health and cardiovascular care: Perceptions of people with cardiovascular disease. PLOS ONE, 12(7), e0181189. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0181189
Karim, M., Kartsonaki, C., Bennett, D., Millwood, I., Hill, M., & Avery, D. et al. (2020). Systemic inflammation is associated with incident stroke and heart disease in East Asians. Scientific Reports, 10(1). doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-62391-3
Matsui, S., Maruhashi, T., Kishimoto, S., Kajikawa, M., Yusoff, F., & Nakashima, A. et al. (2021). Poor toothbrushing behavior is associated with a high risk of cardiovascular events: A prospective observational study. International Journal Of Cardiology. doi: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2021.12.056
Aarabi, G., Heydecke, G., & Seedorf, U. (2018). Roles of Oral Infections in the Pathomechanism of Atherosclerosis. International Journal Of Molecular Sciences, 19(7), 1978. doi: 10.3390/ijms19071978