25/06/2025
turns out gum disease might be a legit risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF).
not just “linked” in a vague wellness way—like, actual clinical data. people with AF who got their gums treated were less likely to have their heart rhythm go out of whack again after ablation.
what’s wild is that this wasn’t even on the radar before. now there’s a metric—PISA (periodontal inflamed surface area)—that might help cardiologists ID who’s at higher risk.
basically: inflamed gums = more vulnerable heart.
you don’t need to be a periodontist to take this seriously. here is what I recommend…
1) gums bleeding? not “normal.”
2) pocket depths >4mm? get them monitored.
3) haven’t had a cleaning in 6+ months? book it.
4) have a heart history in your family? brush and floss like your cardiologist’s watching. and let your dentist know—we’re here to help.
we can’t reverse recession or grow back gums, but what we can do is arrest it—in other words, stop it from getting worse.
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– mark