04 Aug Dental Health and Heart Health
Dental health, heart health, and emotional health are all interconnected. Though it may not seem like your teeth have an affect on how your heart is functioning, some research has shown that it can. But how? We at Prescott Dentistry would love to bring you a deeper understanding of your dental services and how they have a bigger impact on your body than you may realize. We not only focus on cosmetic dentistry to help you aesthetically, but also to improve the overall mental, emotional, and physical health of your body. One area we focus on, your smile, can affect much more than you may realize.
Teeth and Heart Connection
Research done by cardiologists and periodontists suggests that there is evidence to indicate that better oral health may relate to better heart health. The key word to focus on is may. While there are some connections that can be made, it cannot be stated as a full fact that oral health relates to heart health quite yet.
This correlation/connection may be based upon how one takes care of themselves. If a person is ensuring they have a good oral hygiene routine, it can help them have a good overall health routine, as well. If they are continually flossing, brushing their teeth, and keeping up on good oral health, they are more likely to be caring for their overall physical health through eating well and exercising. Positive care for one’s body benefits heart health along with oral health.
The Conclusion
The research conducted by several different researchers from the cardiologist perspective and the periodontist perspective have inconclusive results. The data that was studied has found some evidence to show the link between heart disease and gum disease but not anything that can be generalized and stated as fact. A couple conclusive finds include:
- In gum disease, as well as heart disease, the same inflammatory protein is measured in both instances. It is called the C-reactive protein, which causes inflammation in the whole body in which is assessed for the two diseases.
- The bacteria found in gum disease was also found in blood vessels in heart disease. This similarity in the bacteria for the two diseases could show some correlation, but nothing conclusive.
While there are some similarities and possibly some connection between your oral health and heart health, there isn’t any solid evidence to affirm this as of yet.
While taking care of one may not affect the other, there is still wisdom in taking care of both. Physicians and dentists should be working together to ensure that their patients understand the risks of heart and gum disease. Patients with gum disease should also be aware of the chance for increased heart disease due to the same bacteria and inflammation being found in the body. Prescott Dentistry cares not only about biomimetic dentistry and oral health but also your overall heart health. Contact us today for an appointment!
Images used under creative commons license – commercial use (7/25/2017) Helga Weber (Flickr)