The risk of serious heart disease is significantly increased by periodontitis. Good oral hygiene is not only important for protecting your teeth, but can also prevent heart failure and other heart diseases.
Periodontitis does not cause receding gums or other oral health problems such as bleeding gums, bad breath, loose teeth and tooth loss. But the risk of heart disease also increases.
Heart disease caused by periodontal disease?
A current study reports that people with periodontal diseases such as periodontitis have a generally increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, although gender does not play a role.
Another study this year found that periodontitis also increases the risk of cardiac fibrosis. The periodontally inflamed surface was clearly associated with the risk of atrial fibrosis, in which scar tissue forms in the atrium of the heart.
The researchers report that heart pain, shortness of breath and cardiac arrhythmias as well as an increased risk of heart failure are possible consequences of periodontitis.
Increased risk of heart failure
The effects of periodontitis on the risk of heart failure are confirmed by the results of another study. In this, researchers found that severe periodontitis is significantly associated with the risk of heart failure.
Bacterial imbalance
Another research paper concluded that periodontitis and dental caries are the two main consequences of a bacterial imbalance in the mouth.
However, according to the research group, this imbalance is not limited to the oral cavity, as oral bacterial species have already been detected in heart valves, which has been linked to the development of heart valve disease.
Pay attention to oral hygiene
Taken together, the results make it clear that maintaining good oral hygiene is very important not only for dental health, but also for heart health. (as)