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Happy February!
What a great time to consider your heart health and learn about its relationship to dental health.
I think it is quite a coincidence that Dental Health Month and Heart Health Month are both in February.
In the last few years the research has proven that there is a definite connection between dental health and heart health.It just makes sense that the bacteria in the mouth could circulate to other areas of the body. After all, its the same circulatory system that carries blood to our whole body. So why couldn't it carry bacteria from the mouth to the heart. It has been known for years that if someone has a bad heart valve, or a murmur, they should be premedicated with antibiotics before having their teeth clean. If they are not protected, they could end up with an infection on the defective valve.
Well, now they have been able to locate the bacteria associated with gum disease in the plaque of the arteries inside the heart and elsewhere. This plaque can lead to a heart attack.
Also, we now understand that the toxins from the oral bacteria can cause chronic inflammation in the arteries. It is possible that inflammation in the mouth can lead to inflammation in the heart and throughout the body. This inflammation can lead to heart attack or stroke.
So, now that we know their is a connection between inflammation in the heart and the mouth, we have even
omre incentive to keep our mouths clean and healthy. Be sure to see your dentist regularly and ask them to check for inflammation and gum disease. You owe it too your heart!
