{"id":152,"date":"2019-03-10T17:07:06","date_gmt":"2019-03-10T17:07:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nyhowarddds.com\/blog\/?p=152"},"modified":"2019-04-01T17:07:50","modified_gmt":"2019-04-01T17:07:50","slug":"gum-disease-poor-heart-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nyhowarddds.com\/blog\/2019\/03\/10\/gum-disease-poor-heart-health\/","title":{"rendered":"The Domino Effect: Discover How Gum Disease Can Be Linked to Poor Heart Health"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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With so many kinds of doctors treating different areas of\nthe mind and body, you might be surprised to learn just how intertwined it all\ncan be. While you\u2019re seeing a counselor about the stress in your life, your\ndentist is providing you with a nightguard to prevent teeth grinding, which you\nstarted doing because of the stress. Did you know the same type of connection\ncan be made between gum disease<\/a> and\npoor heart health? To further explain, read on to find out how oral infection\ncan lead to cardiovascular disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

What is Gum Disease?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Also known as periodontal disease, this is the number reason\nfor adult tooth loss. Gum disease occurs when an infection forms in the tissues\nthat hold your teeth in place. If you don\u2019t practice good dental habits,\nbacteria can build, causing red, swollen, and irritated gums. A mild stage of\ngum disease is known as gingivitis; however, if the bacteria is causing bone to\ndeteriorate, your teeth may begin to loosen and eventually, fall out. This is\nknown as periodontitis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Can it Impact My Heart?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When your gums show signs of periodontitis, pockets of pus\ncan form, allowing bacteria to spread beneath the gum line and enter the\nbloodstream. Inflammation and bacteria can cause plaque to build on your\narteries and harden. As a result, blocked arteries can lead to problems with\nblood flow, causing a blockage to the heart and ultimately, a heart attack. In\naddition, hardened arteries can cause hypertension and increase your risk for a\nstroke. If that isn\u2019t scary enough, you can develop endocarditis, which is an\ninfection of the lining of the heart, and it can be fatal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Can I Do to Prevent Problems?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you want to ensure your oral and overall health is in\ngood shape, you\u2019ll need to commit to making some changes in your life. While it\nmay not be easy at first, once you get into a routine and start noticing\npositive changes, you\u2019ll be happy you did it. For prevention, make sure you:<\/p>\n\n\n\n