Does periodontal disease affect more than just rotten teeth? The risk of heart disease may double! Doctors reveal this is the correct way to take care of your mouth
Does periodontal disease not only affect dental health? Study: Risk of cardiovascular disease 2 times higher
According to a 2021 study in the American Heart Association journal “Hypertension”, it was found that patients with periodontal disease have a risk of cardiovascular disease that is nearly twice as high as those without periodontal disease. Dr. Yan Zuohua, director of Lianxin Clinic, reminded that periodontal disease can lead to chronic inflammation and further affect cardiovascular health. It is one of the oral diseases that cannot be ignored.
Dr. Yan Zuohua said that there was a nearly 60-year-old patient in his clinic recently. After a physical examination, he was found to have coronary artery disease and needed a stent in his heart. After treatment and following the doctor’s instructions, I took medication regularly to control the three highs, and even actively adjusted my life and eating habits. Many values such as fibrinogen and cholesterol have improved a lot.
However, after several follow-up visits, Dr. Yan Zuohua, who assisted the patient in health management, discovered that the patient’s myeloperoxidase (MPO), oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxidized LDL), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (HS-CRP) ) and other cardiovascular inflammation indexes still exceeded the standard. After further detailed questioning by the doctor, it was discovered that the patient’s teeth had never been very good and he had been suffering from periodontal disease for a long time.
Why does periodontal disease affect cardiovascular disease? Doctors analyze 2 potential possibilities
Dr. Yan Zuohua explained that periodontal disease refers to bacterial infection around the teeth, and may lead to problems such as bad breath, gum recession, and tooth loss. Dr. Yan Zuohua shared that according to the authoritative medical journal “BMJ Open”, people with a history of periodontal disease have an increased risk of being diagnosed with other diseases within 3 years; and in recent years, many studies have pointed out that periodontal disease can affect cardiovascular health.
Dr. Yan Zuohua pointed out that the patient’s excessive cardiovascular-related inflammation indicators are likely related to periodontal disease. There are two possible reasons: one is inflammation of the body. Periodontal disease or tooth decay can cause inflammation in the body and produce free radicals, resulting in low density. Lipoprotein oxidation. Low-density lipoprotein is like the “villain” in the body. When oxidized, it acts like a “villain with a gun” and begins to cause damage to the human body. For example, plaque forms on the blood vessel wall, which may cause blood vessel obstruction over time.
The second is poor oral hygiene. Poor oral hygiene habits can easily cause an imbalance of oral bacteria and affect the first line of defense of the oral mucosa, causing bacterial growth and increasing the risk of inflammation in the body.
How to maintain oral health and avoid heart disease? Doctor lists 5 key points for periodontal disease prevention
If you want to keep your teeth healthy and avoid cardiovascular risks, you should implement dental care into your daily life. Dr. Yan Zuowa provides the following 5 preventive steps to help people maintain dental health and protect heart health:
Avoid smoking and drinking: Smoking will reduce the blood flow of periodontal tissue, further affecting the periodontal self-repair ability; drinking alcohol will easily increase the chance of tooth decay.
Reduce sugar intake: Refined sugar will make the oral environment acidic and may cause varying degrees of tooth decay or periodontal disease.
Eat more fruits and vegetables: Fruits and vegetables are rich in phytochemicals and polyphenols, which can create a non-inflammatory oral environment.
Moderately supplement probiotics: There are many bacterial species in the oral cavity, so you can take more probiotics to improve the bacterial environment.
Clean your mouth well: Clean your teeth correctly, such as Brushing your teeth using the Bethesda method, and use dental floss or an interdental brush.
Dr. Yan Zuohua said that as the saying goes, “prevention is better than cure.” If periodontal disease and tooth decay have already come to your doorstep, don’t ignore the disease and avoid medical treatment. You should actively treat it as early as possible, and don’t wait until you suffer from cardiovascular disease and later regret it. In addition, although there are many risk factors that cause cardiovascular risk, in addition to the factors that people often pay attention to, such as the three high obesity levels, overweight or obesity, metabolic syndrome, and stress, the impact of oral health on cardiovascular disease should also be kept in mind.
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