How can gum disease be related to the heart?

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.

Worth consideration: Researches show people with gum disease are almost twice as likely to suffer from heart disease. Bacteria from gum disease enters the bloodstream through injured gum and connect to the plaques in the coronary arteries, possibly causing the formation of blood clots. When gum is inflamed, production of arterial plaque increased. Total count of bactera, including 2 gum dz strains, stress the heart!

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.