Researchers have found that if you have periodontal disease, you will be twice as likely to suffer from coronary artery disease as a person that is free of periodontal disease. Heart disease is the number one killer among men and women! Claiming more victims than all forms of cancer combined. Numerous research studies have shown a link between cardiovascular disease and the key bacteria in periodontal disease. While research continues to explore links between the two it is important to treat periodontal disease to limit or eliminate its impact on heart disease.
Several theories exist to explain the link between periodontal disease and heart disease. One theory is that oral bacteria can affect the heart when they enter the blood stream, attaching to fatty plaques in the coronary arteries (heart blood vessels) and contributing to clot formation. Coronary artery disease is characterized by thickening of the walls of the coronary arteries due to the build-up of fatty proteins. Blood clots can obstruct normal blood flow, restricting the amount of nutrients and oxygen required for the heart to function properly. This may lead to heart attacks.
Another possibility is that the inflammation, caused by periodontal disease, increases plaque build up, which may contribute to swelling of the arteries.
Periodontal disease can also exacerbate existing heart conditions. Because it is recognized that oral bacteria do circulate throughout the blood stream by entry via the gum tissue, there are curtain heart conditions that require the use of antibiotics before teeth are cleaned or dental work done. Patients at risk for infective endocarditis may require antibiotics prior to dental procedures, your dental professional and cardiologist will be able to determine if your heart condition requires there use. Research is now identifying other problems that can occur via the same mechanism.
Stroke
Additional studies have pointed to a relationship between periodontal disease and stroke. In one study that looked at the causal relationship of oral infection as a risk factor for stroke, people diagnosed with acute cerebrovascular ischemia were found more likely to have an oral infection when compared to those in the control group. Other studies have shown a high correlation between tooth loss and stroke in non-smokers, thus discounting smoking being the causative factor.