An area of growing research and interest in recent years is the surprising link between oral hygiene and stroke or heart attack prevention.
Evidence indicates that poor oral hygiene in particular the presence of gum disease, Periodontitis https://ada.org.au/dental-health-week-2024-1-bleeding-gums-are-a-red-flag is associated with an increased risk of stroke or heart attack.
How does Oral Hygiene affect Stroke and heart attack risk?
- Inflammation. Gum disease leads to chronic inflammation in the body. This affects blood vessels leading to atherosclerosis (narrowing and hardening of the arteries insert hyperlink for definition). Artherosclerosis increases risk of blood clots and stroke. When oral bacteria enter the blood stream via the gums they can trigger systemic inflammation.
- Heart disease. Bacterial spread from the oral cavity throughout the body can lead to the formation of plaques in the Heart disease, endocarditis https://www.dental.wa.gov.au/pdfs/OHP420%20Oral%20Health%20and%20Endocarditis.pdf causing coronary artery disease.
- Blood Clotting. Oral bacteria and inflammation from gum disease may increase the likelihood of blood clots which may cause a stroke.
How does Good Oral Hygiene minimise the risk?
- Daily brushing and flossing helps reduce bacteria in the mouth thus preventing gum disease and systemic inflammation.
- Regular Dental Check-ups can help detect and treat gum disease early and reduces the potential impact on overall health.
- Avoid Smoking because this is a major risk factor for oral health issues, stroke and heart attack.
Maintaining good oral hygiene can play a crucial role in reducing the risk of stroke or heart attack, in addition to other preventative measures like managing diet, exercise and blood pressure. If you are concerned about your risk factors it’s always a good idea to consult your Dentist and GP.
