Heart disease and oral health: what is the link?

Dentists, and health professionals in general, are constantly telling us to brush our teeth and emphasizing the importance of good oral hygiene on our overall health.

Nowadays, we know from numerous scientific studies that the health of our teeth and mouth is intimately linked to that of our heart!

What is the link between heart disease and oral health?

According to scientific studies, bacteria living in the oral cavity, in the absence of oral hygiene measures, proliferate and cause multiple pathologies, including gingivitis and other periodontal diseases. These bacteria then pass into the bloodstream and are carried via the bloodstream to the various organs.

They obviously reach the heart (being the organ that receives the most blood) and invade its walls and those of the blood vessels. Once there, they multiply and proliferate, causing various heart diseases.

This is the main reason why people at risk of infective endocarditis (infection of the endocardium, the innermost layer of the heart wall) should receive a preventive treatment with antibiotics before performing any invasive procedure in the oral cavity (tooth extraction, minor surgery, and even dental care and scaling…).

In addition, oral diseases are estimated to be the most common cause of infective endocarditis.

Heart palpitations due to dental causes!

It may not make sense at first, but there is a relationship between heart rate and teeth. First, did you know that pressing your eyeballs (closed eyelids) will slow your heart rate? This is done by sending cardiac moderation information via the vagus nerve or “X nerve” (the tenth pair of cranial nerves).

This phenomenon is called the “oculi-cardiac reflex”. Knowing that the cornea and the upper and lower teeth are innervated by the same nerve (trigeminal nerve), and that the latter moderates the heart rate via the eye and accelerates it via the teeth, involuntary teeth clenching due to bruxism can cause tachycardia and palpitations.

This phenomenon particularly affects women, because the dental nerves are sensitive to estrogen. The underlying pathology (bruxism) must be addressed to get rid of these cardiac symptoms.

Periodontal disease and atherosclerosis

It would seem, according to several studies, that the formation of atheromatous plaques would have as a risk factor the diseases of the periodontium (gingivitis, periodontitis…). Indeed, scientists have found that the bacteria causing periodontal pathologies are similar to those found in atherosclerotic areas of the arteries. This confirms the hypothesis that the oral cavity is among the main sources of bacterial dissemination to the heart and vessels via the bloodstream.

Periodontal diseases, mainly due to poor oral hygiene conditions, by promoting the formation of atherosclerosis plaques, increase the risk of myocardial infarction (MI or heart attack) and stroke. We should think twice before skipping a tooth brushing…

Poor oral hygiene increases the risk of stroke

It is hard to believe that poor oral hygiene can lead to a condition as serious as a stroke. However, the evidence is there thanks to numerous scientific studies.

It is agreed that the non-observance of oral hygiene measures is a source of gingivitis, which, if left untreated, can become complicated by periodontitis. That is, the expansion of infection and inflammation from the gums to the entire periodontal (tooth supporting) tissue. This inflammation, when it becomes chronic, affects the whole body and this can result in an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

Chronic periodontitis can lead to the loss of one or more teeth. A study by Korean neurologists has shown that toothlessness can have serious consequences on general health. Indeed, they found significant transformations in the white matter of the brain of patients who had lost at least 7 teeth as well as multiple cerebral infarctions!

So it can be said over and over again: practice good oral hygiene to protect your heart and reduce your risk of stroke.

Conclusion

Infectious endocarditis, tachycardia, palpitations, atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction and stroke… The least we can say is that there is a link between oral health and cardiovascular pathologies. It is therefore important to strictly follow the oral hygiene measures recommended by health professionals to protect your heart and blood vessels and preserve your health in general.

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