The Link Between Gum Disease and Heart Problems

General health and how it may be linked to gum problems

Gum disease affects most people to some degree and at some point in their lives. Very often, it is only very minor and temporary but if left untreated can lead to gingivitis and/or periodontitis which have have major consequences for a person’s teeth, causing sore and bleeding gums, halitosis and eventually tooth loss.

Reports in medical journals in recent years have also linked gum disease to heart conditions, something which may come as a surprise to many people.

A number of initial studies have stated that when the gums are inflamed for a significant period of time, this can cause an irregular flow of blood to the heart causing potential problems with the flow of oxygen around the body. Whilst some of the results of these studies have been challenged and the need for a major study is generally accepted, there is sufficient concern for this reason to be added to many others for keeping the gums in good condition.

For the most part, this is not especially difficult and a good brushing and flossing regime will take care of this, especially if you remember to change your toothbrush at regular intervals. Remember that although a toothbrush may be more comfortable when soft, it will not be as effective at removing the buildup of plaque.

However well you brush and floss though, there are areas in the mouth which are extremely difficult to reach by conventional methods and this is where the plaque tends to do its damage; one area in particular is at the back of the rear teeth which is very hard to reach when cleaning our teeth.  For this reason and to ensure that there is no gum disease present, a regular visit to our hygienist is recommended. With specialist equipment, they will be able to detect any buildup of plaque that you can’t see and remove it, usually very easily.

In fact, most plaque is easily removed by a hygienist if caught early on; however, if it is left untreated then more drastic action may be needed. This can include a deep clean which can be quite uncomfortable. For anyone familiar with a ‘scale and polish’, a deep clean is done in a similar manner but involves the procedure taking place under the gum line where the teeth are much more sensitive. Because of this, it is usually done with a local anaesthetic to numb the area involved. Treatment of this nature would be performed by our resident Periodontist.

If treatment is not carried out, the inevitable result is the loss of teeth in that area and also potentially bone loss in the jaw. Although, any lost teeth can be replaced with the excellent dental implants, prevention, as they say, is better than cure and just some simple care backed up by regular dental visits is the best way to proceed.

Time may yet prove the initial link between heart disease and gum disease to be correct but even without definite proof, it still makes sense to have your gums checked regularly by our hygienist with onward referral to the Periodontist as necessary to ensure that your teeth and gums stay in good condition.

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