The connection between oral health and heart health has become a major area of research over the past couple of decades. Now while for years we thought gum disease was pretty much a mouth thing, growing evidence suggests that chronic gum problems may contribute to a whole lot more than just a few aching teeth. Researchers have found that oral bacteria and inflammation can get into the bloodstream and increase your risk of cardiovascular disease. And the numbers are terrifying. A pretty worrying 30% of Aussies over the age of 15 have moderate to severe gum disease. As more and more families are seeking out proper dental care services like a childrens dentist Mt Druitt, for example, researchers are looking deeper into how gum infections can impact your heart health long-term.
The Growing Burden of Gum Disease in Australia
Gum disease is a chronic inflammatory problem that affects the tissues that support the teeth. In Australia, the rate of people with moderate to severe gum disease shot up from around 23% in 200406 to 30% in 201718. The sad truth is that the older you are, the more likely you are to get gum disease. 33% of Aussies in their mid30s to late 50s have got gum disease, 51% of those in the 5574 age group, and a whopping 69% of Aussies over 75.
It’s not just about the aching teeth and gum pain. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare found that the rate of gum disease in Australia increased by a massive 40% in the last 20 years. Oral health disorders now account for a sizeable 2.3% of Australia’s total disease burden and 4.2% of all nonfatal health problems.
How Gum Disease Can Affect the Heart?
Researchers have put forward a few theories for why gum disease might be linked to heart disease. The most widely accepted idea is that gum disease can cause chronic inflammation in the body. During a gum infection, bacteria accumulate below the gum line and that triggers a full-on immune response. This can damage gum tissue and create tiny openings for bad bacteria and inflammatory molecules to sneak into the bloodstream.
Once they’re in the bloodstream, they can damage the inner lining of blood vessels. A condition known as endothelial dysfunction. And that’s been identified as an early sign of atherosclerosis, or the narrowing and hardening of arteries.
What the Research Says About Heart Disease Risk?
There’s still some debate about the strength of the link between gum disease and heart disease, but one thing’s for sure there’s a connection there. Big population studies have found that people with gum disease are much more likely to get cardiovascular disease than those with healthy gums.
One big study found that people with a history of gum disease were 18% more likely to get cardiovascular disease than those without gum disease. Other research has suggested that people with moderate to severe gum disease may be 23 times more likely to have heart attacks or strokes. A recent meta-analysis found that people with gum disease have around a 30% higher risk of getting atrial fibrillation one of the most common heart rhythm problems in the world.
Shared Risk Factors Create More than a Few Headaches
One of the real headaches in figuring out the gum disease heart disease connection is all the shared risk factors floating around. Smoking, diabetes, being overweight, eating unhealthily, getting older & living on a pretty low income. All of these things greatly increase the chances of both conditions showing up.
Why Getting Early on Matters?
The importance of catching things early becomes even clearer when you think about how gum disease progresses. Gingivitis, the earliest stage you can usually fix it with some good brushing, flossing and a trip to the dentist. Get to the point where it’s periodontitis, however, and you can kiss your teeth goodbye. The bone & tissue that holds your teeth in is gone for good. Some Australian data shows that people who only go to the dentist when something goes wrong have gum disease at roughly double the rate of people who see their dentist for regular check-ups. This just highlights how important it is to go see your dentist regularly & catch any health problems before they become serious.
