{"id":28,"date":"2020-02-16T22:31:15","date_gmt":"2020-02-16T22:31:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newhavendental.com\/blog\/?p=28"},"modified":"2020-03-16T22:36:01","modified_gmt":"2020-03-16T22:36:01","slug":"does-gum-disease-increase-risk-of-heart-disease","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newhavendental.com\/blog\/2020\/02\/16\/does-gum-disease-increase-risk-of-heart-disease\/","title":{"rendered":"Does Gum Disease Increase the Risk of Heart Disease?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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It might seem counterintuitive to think that your gums could\nhave any bearing on your heart. After all, the gums are just a framework for\nyour teeth, right? Well\u2026 not quite. In fact, your gum health may have a big\neffect on your overall health. Some research even strongly indicates that gum\ndisease could be a major contributor to heart disease. In the information that\nfollows, you will learn more about the connection between these two conditions\nand discover a few tips that will help you protect yourself from both of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

The Gum Disease \u2013 Heart Disease Link<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is a\ncondition wherein bacteria invade the gum tissue. The infection leads to a host\nof symptoms, including red gums, loose teeth, bad breath, and more. It also\nincreases the body\u2019s burden of inflammation. On a short-term basis,\ninflammation is a good thing because it is part of the body\u2019s healing response\nto injury. However, when the inflammation becomes chronic (such as is the case\nwith gum disease), it can be a major contributor to atherosclerosis (fatty\ndeposits on the artery walls).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although researchers cannot say for a certainty that gum\ndisease-related inflammation causes <\/em>heart disease, various studies have\nfound a strong\ncorrelation<\/a> between the two conditions. For example, a 2014 study found\nthat individuals who received proper care for their gum disease had\ncardiovascular care costs that were 10 \u2013 40 percent lower than people who did\nnot receive adequate oral care. Separate research indicates that gum\ndisease can increase the risk of a heart attack by as much as 20 percent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What You Can Do<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Given the strong correlation between gum disease and heart\ndisease, it stands to reason that you should make every effort possible to\nprotect your gums. You can do so by:<\/p>\n\n\n\n