A 35-year-old member asked:
How can gum disease give you heart disease?
3 doctor answers • 6 doctors weighed in
Dr. Peter Karsantanswered
Dentistry 41 years experience
Heart disease: Evidence suggests that the same bacteria that causes gum disease can travel through the body and cause coronary artery disease. Very complex issue as there is evidence now that sugar may play a role as well as some new evidence that coronary disease may be caused by stem cells gone rouge.
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5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Eric Lindenanswered
Specializes in Periodontics
See detailed answer : There have been several studies done showing a strong association between untreated/unstable gum disease and cardiovascular disease.
The bacteria present around the clogged arteries are similar to those found in gum disease.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. John Francisanswered
Periodontics 32 years experience
Inflammation: It's all about the way our bodies fight infections, through inflammatory ways, and that can be bad on the heart. More complicated than that, but that is the short answer.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Similar questions
A 35-year-old member asked:
How can gum disease be related to the heart?
3 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in
Dr. Jason Cataldoanswered
dentistry - Periodontics 26 years experience
It depends: This is a complex question, but the most straightforward answer is that since gum disease or periodontitis, is an infection, the bacteria have access to the bloodstream and the heart through bleeding gums. In addition, by having this chronic infection, the body responds to it by releasing it's own substances into the circulation which can harm other tissues.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Canada
A 26-year-old male asked:
What is the link between heart disease and gum disease and how?
2 doctor answers • 8 doctors weighed in
Dr. William Jakavickanswered
39 years experience
Inflammation: Most all disease conditions arise from INFLAMMATION. Deep inflammation in the body has become an indicator of many disease states as well as predictor of potential problems to come. Many inflammation causing bacteria found in the body have been confirmed to be the very same ones found in gum disease. How we take care of ourselves from exercise, what we eat, dental homecare are all related.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:
Is gum disease is linked directly to heart disease?
4 doctor answers • 11 doctors weighed in
Dr. Louis Galliaanswered
Surgery - Oral & Maxillofacial 47 years experience
Probably.: According to the american academy of periodontology, people with periodontal disease are almost twice as likely to have coronary artery disease (also called heart disease). And one study found that the presence of common problems in the mouth, including gum disease (gingivitis), cavities, and missing teeth, were as good at predicting heart disease as cholesterol levels.
So brush ; use dental floss.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated Apr 2, 2013
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