Can Bleeding Gums Cause a Heart Attack?
What is the Oral-Systemic Link?
You’ve always heard that it’s important to take care of your teeth. Brush and floss every day, and see the dentist for good oral health. But did you know that your oral health could directly affect your overall health? And the road goes both ways—problems with your overall health show signs in your mouth, too.
Did you know that gum disease increases your risk of heart attack by 50%? Did you know that plaque buildup in your mouth can be an indicator of and contribute to plaque buildup in your arteries? These mouth-body connections are called the “oral-systemic link”. Portland dentist Dr. David Case explains the important ways your body systems work together for better or worse.
Gum Disease
Infection in your gums can significantly increase your risk for heart disease, stroke, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, low birth weight babies, bacterial pneumonia and more. In fact, gum disease is directly linked to at least 52 other systemic diseases. If you get gum disease you may be at a higher risk of developing health problems in these areas because:
- Your mouth makes a cozy home for bacteria to thrive.
- Your gums are full of blood vessels that can quickly move bacterial infections like gum disease into other parts of your body.
- Gum disease is a sign of chronic inflammation, which can contribute to many other systemic diseases.
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At Family Dental Health, our goal is to make your dental visits as pleasant as possible. Part of this effort includes taking the complication out of utilizing your insurance benefits.