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Doctors: Simple Habit Lowers Heart Disease Risk Drs Producoes – Getty Images<\/p>\n
The American Heart Association released a new scientific statement, stressing the importance of dental care and hygiene.<\/p>\n
Poor dental health is linked to a higher risk of heart disease, per the statement.<\/p>\n
A growing body of research supports this.<\/p>\n
Heart disease prevention has historically focused on doing things like eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly. But the American Heart Association (AHA) just released a scientific statement that encourages people to focus on another area of health to support the heart: your teeth.<\/p>\n
The statement, which was published in the journal Circulation<\/a>, makes a solid case for the role of good dental health in supporting heart health<\/a>. \u201cYour mouth and your heart are connected,\u201d Andrew H. Tran, M.D., M.P.H., a cardiologist and director of the preventive cardiology program at Nationwide Children\u2019s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, said in a statement<\/a>. \u201cBrushing, flossing, and regular dental checkups aren\u2019t just about a healthy smile\u2014they\u2019re an important part of protecting your heart.\u201d<\/p>\n The AHA\u2019s scientific statement focuses on periodontal disease, which is a chronic inflammatory condition that impacts more than 40% of American adults over age 30. The earliest stage of periodontal disease is gingivitis\u2014inflammation of the gums due to the buildup of oral plaque\u2014followed by periodontitis, where the gums begin to pull away from the teeth and form small pockets that can trap bacteria and lead to infection. (The most advanced stage is severe periodontitis, where teeth may become loose and fall out.)<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019 ve known for quite some time that periodontal disease is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease,\u201d says Yu-Ming Ni, M.D.<\/a>, a cardiologist and lipidologist at MemorialCare Heart and Vascular Institute at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA. \u201cIt\u2019s just not a relationship that we commonly discuss.\u201d<\/p>\n Meet the experts: Yu-Ming Ni, M.D.,<\/a> is a cardiologist and lipidologist at MemorialCare Heart and Vascular Institute at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA; Hosam Hmoud, M.D.<\/a>, is a cardiology fellow at Northwell\u2019s Lenox Hill Hospital; Justin Zachariah, M.D., M.P.H.<\/a>, is a statement co-author and director of research, Pediatric Cardiology at Texas Children’s Hospital Heart Center; Stephanie Saucier, M.D.<\/a>, is a cardiologist at Hartford HealthCare; Hsun-Liang Chan, D.D.S.<\/a>, is a professor and chair of the Division of Periodontology at The Ohio State University College of Dentistry<\/p>\n The link between dental and heart health seems random, but there are a few things to consider. Here\u2019s what doctors want you to keep in mind.<\/p>\n How might good dental health lower your risk of heart disease?<\/p>\n There are a few reasons why your dental health may impact your risk of cardiovascular disease. Gum disease and poor oral hygiene allow bacteria to enter the bloodstream, which may cause inflammation that can lead to the buildup of plaque and, ultimately, heart disease, says Hosam Hmoud, M.D.<\/a>, a cardiology fellow at Northwell\u2019s Lenox Hill Hospital.<\/p>\n Gum disease itself causes inflammation, and that\u2019s something the body reacts to, Dr. Ni says. \u201cThat inflammation can stress the arteries of your heart, simply by nature of that chronic inflammatory response,\u201d he says. Inflammation also seems to make plaque that may build up in the arteries more vulnerable to rupture, which may lead to heart attack and stroke, Dr. Ni says.<\/p>\n Still, \u201cthe exact mechanisms with which gum disease is linked to heart diseases are not fully known,\u201d says Hsun-Liang Chan, D.D.S.<\/a>, professor and chair of the Division of Periodontology at The Ohio State University College of Dentistry. But because of this association, \u201cmaintaining good dental hygiene, coupled with regularly scheduled dental visits, can mitigate those risks,\u201d Dr. Hmoud says.<\/p>\n This isn\u2019t a new concept, by the way. Several<\/a> studies<\/a> have linked periodontal disease with a higher risk for heart attack, stroke, atrial fibrillation, heart failure, dying from a cardiac event, and more. \u201cOverall, periodontal disease should be viewed as one of many modifiable risk factors,\u201d says Stephanie Saucier, M.D.<\/a>, a cardiologist at Hartford HealthCare.<\/p>\n How much does this matter?<\/p>\n The AHA stresses that while periodontal disease contributes to chronic inflammation that\u2019s linked to heart disease, a cause-and-effect relationship hasn\u2019t been determined. So, while someone with periodontal disease may be at a higher risk of having a heart attack and other heart events, it\u2019s not clear if the periodontal disease directly causes that.<\/p>\n Still, cardiologists say there seems to be some benefit in staying on top of your dental health to support your heart. \u201cIt wouldn\u2019t completely turn things around, but it would certainly be additive in terms of risk factor modification for heart disease,\u201d Dr. Hmoud says.<\/p>\n Dr. Ni agrees. \u201cThis can definitely influence your risk of heart disease, but it\u2019s one of many risk factors,\u201d he says. \u201cIt\u2019s not like having perfect dental health will eliminate your risk for heart disease, but it certainly helps.\u201d<\/p>\n Justin Zachariah, M.D., M.P.H.<\/a>, statement co-author and director of research, Pediatric Cardiology at Texas Children\u2019s Hospital Heart Center, stresses the importance of staying on top of your dental health. \u201cManaging gum disease through direct oral hygiene treatments, like flossing, can reduce inflammation in the whole body and change the microorganisms that camp out locally in the mouth, the oral microbiome,\u201d he says. \u201cInflammation related to gum disease appears to be associated with worse heart disease risk factors like diabetes, high blood pressure, and cholesterol.\u201d<\/p>\n How often should you see the dentist?<\/p>\n