There’s a strong link between gum disease and heart disease and strokes; however, gum disease hasn’t been definitively proven to cause heart disease or strokes, according to a scientific statement issued in Circulation, an American Heart Association (AHA) journal. After reviewing more than 500 studies, researchers Peter Lockhart and Ann F. Bolger determined that currently, there is no conclusive evidence to indicate that gum disease causes heart disease or strokes: “Much of the literature is conflicting, but if there was a strong causative link, we would know that by now,†he says. Lockhart suggests a large, long-term study is required to prove that dental disease causes heart disease and stroke.
Though the evidence isn’t conclusive, a strong correlation between gum disease and heart disease and strokes exists, says the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP). Nearly 75% of adults and 50% of children in the United States have gum disease, and “researchers have found that people with periodontal disease are twice as likely to suffer from coronary artery disease as those without periodontal disease,†according to the AAP. And, a recent article in the Journal of Aging Research, proclaims elderly persons with gum disease are almost twice as likely to experience heart disease in comparison to people whose gums are healthy. A long-term study of more than 5000 elderly adults (median age 81) indicates that elderly people who never floss their teeth are about 25 percent more likely to die than those who floss daily. Also, elderly people who didn’t visit the dentist had a 25-50% higher risk of death than those who visited the dentist twice in the past 12 months.
Though current research isn’t conclusive, it does suggest bacteria that cause gum disease may contribute to blood clot formation, which, in turn, can lead to heart attacks, according to the AAP. Also, gum disease causes inflammation, which increases plaque buildup, which, in turn, may cause arteries to swell.
Further Reading
Dental Health Behaviors, Dentition, and Mortality in the Elderly: The Leisure World Cohort Study: downloads.hindawi.com/journals/jar/2011/156061.pdf
No Proof Found That Gum Disease Causes Heart Disease or Stroke: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120418162254.htm
Periodontal Disease Fact Sheet: http://www.perio.org/consumer/disease_facts.htm
Periodontal Diseases: http://www.childrenshospital.org/az/Site1431/mainpageS1431P0.html
Review Validates Association Between Oral Health and Heart Health: Highlights Need for Further Research: http://www.iadr.org/files/public/12AADRPressRelease_AHAStatement.pdf
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