09/09/2018
How dental issues can cause heart attacks and Dentist can prevent a Heart attack.
Heart attacks remain the number one cause of death in the India, despite the fact that almost all of them are preventable. Most dentists are aware of the mouth-vascular connection, but unfortunately, most physicians aren't.
Another cause of heart attack due to inflammation is unhealthy bacteria in the mouth. (Note that, as with the gut microbiome, the mouth microbiome can include both "good" bacteria and "bad" — harmful — bacteria). Periodontal means "around the teeth," and refers to the gums (also known as gingiva), the jaw bones that surround the teeth, and the ligaments that hold the teeth in place. Periodontal disease causes bleeding gums and loss of bone support around the teeth. As the gums become inflamed, deep pockets develop around the teeth, and oxygen-poor ecosystems are created in which harmful bacteria flourish. These bacteria have recently been proven to cause heart disease.
In November 2016, Drs. Bale and Doneen published an article in the British Medical Journal describing new evidence linking periodontal disease and heart disease. They showed that bad mouth bacteria that cause periodontal disease not only cause atherosclerosis, but that these bacteria can cause arterial plaque to rupture.
Before your mouth reaches the tipping point in which inflammation, bleeding gums and bone loss are present, the bacterial burden starts building up silently. It is possible to know what your levels of bacteria are — and whether these are good or bad bacteria. Dentists can prevent and treat gingivitis and periodontitis, thereby preventing heart attacks.
