By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    What Are the Benefits of CBD?
    November 27, 2021
    How to Measure Adult Diapers- The Ultimate Guide to Picking the Right Size
    March 8, 2022
    medicine cabinet
    The Effect Of Finished Dosage Form Manufacturing In New Drugs
    July 5, 2022
    Latest News
    Beyond Nutrition: Everyday Foods That Support Whole-Body Health
    June 15, 2025
    The Wide-Ranging Benefits of Magnesium Supplements
    June 11, 2025
    The Best Home Remedies for Migraines
    June 5, 2025
    The Hidden Impact Of Stress On Your Body’s Alignment And Balance
    May 22, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    turo lawyer
    Why A Good Turo Lawyer Can Help Cover Medical Fees
    April 8, 2024
    Comprehensive Healthcare Treatment for Slip and Fall Injuries: A Guide to Recovery
    Comprehensive Healthcare Treatment for Slip and Fall Injuries: A Guide to Recovery
    December 26, 2023
    Medical Negligence
    The Impact of Medical Negligence: How Claims Can Help You Move Forward
    January 6, 2025
    Latest News
    Let Your Lawyer Handle the Work Before You Pay Medical Costs
    July 6, 2025
    Top HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps for Healthcare Teams
    June 25, 2025
    When Healthcare Ends, the Legal Process Begins: What Families Should Know About Probate and Medical Estates
    June 20, 2025
    Preventing Contamination In Healthcare Facilities Starts With Hygiene
    June 15, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: How Is Your Dental Health Connected To Heart Health?
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Specialties > Cardiology > How Is Your Dental Health Connected To Heart Health?
CardiologyDental health

How Is Your Dental Health Connected To Heart Health?

Sean Mallon
Sean Mallon
Share
8 Min Read
dental health connected to heart health
Shutterstock Licensed Photo - By RossHelen | stock photo ID: 237514183
SHARE

What does a healthy smile have to do with a healthy heart? More than you might expect.

Oral hygiene plays a large role in our overall health. Our mouth is teeming with bacteria, many of which are beneficial, or at least harmless. If harmful bacteria are allowed to colonize the mouth, however, they then have direct access to your respiratory and digestive systems.

In the COVID-19 era, we’ve become more concerned with our health and more aware of the dangers of microbes than ever. While handwashing is essential, brushing your teeth and caring for your teeth and gum health is just as important to keep your body healthy.

Consult a dentist, like the experts at Durangodmd.com, to learn how to best protect your smile, and read on to learn how your dental health is connected to your heart health.

More Read

Genetically Informed Therapy and Technical Innovations in Cardiology
4 Telltale Signs Your Wisdom Teeth Are Coming In
Many Deaths from Heart Disease, Stroke Are Avoidable
Top Ten Medical Innovations: Cleveland Clinic Summit Takeaway
Why Cosmetic Dentistry Is Important – And Isn’t Just About Appearances

Dental Health Risks

If unhealthy bacteria are allowed to multiply in your mouth, they can cause oral infection. This impacts your teeth and gums, causing inflammation, discomfort, bad breath, and other unpleasant symptoms.

Apart from having major consequences for your smile, nasty mouth infections could pose a risk in other parts of your body. In fact, studies suggest that the oral bacteria present in periodontitis, a severe form of gum disease, could be involved in diseases impacting other parts of the body.

This relationship works both ways—the health of your body will impact the health of your mouth, and vice versa. Diabetes and HIV/AIDS can reduce your body’s capacity to fight infection, increasing the chance of developing an infection of the gums. Conversely, maintaining good gum health can help diabetics better control their blood sugar levels.

Choosing the right dentist, especially if you suffer from a condition that can impact your dental health, is a key part of dental care.

Heart Health and Dental Health

Just as there are conditions that impact your gums and teeth, the health of your mouth may increase or lower your risk of developing other conditions. While there’s no clear connection established, research has associated poor dental health with poor cardiovascular health.

Here are some connections between dental health and cardiovascular health:

  • Periodontitis and other gum diseases can increase your risk of heart disease.
  • Bacteria from your mouth can enter your bloodstream and infect the inner lining and valves of your heart, causing endocarditis.
  • Oral bacteria may cause inflammation or infection in the cardiovascular system that may have a role in clogged arteries and strokes.
  • Dental health is vital in managing diabetes, and diabetes can severely impact your cardiovascular health.

A recent study linked tooth-brushing behavior with risk for cardiovascular disease. It’s found that individuals who brush fewer than two times a day were three times more at risk for heart disease.

Inflammation from gum disease may also be a sign of inflammation in other parts of the body, most notably in the heart’s valves. While these studies have not established a clear cause and effect link between oral health and heart health, a healthy smile may well be the way to a healthy heart!

Therefore, protecting your teeth and gums from infection could go a long way in keeping your circulatory system functioning well.

Dental Health Warning Signs

In order to monitor the wellbeing of your mouth, it’s important to know the symptoms of gum disease. This is because undiagnosed gum infections can play a role in increasing the risk of your heart’s health.

The following could be signs that you should consult your dentist to address an issue with your gum health:

  • Sore, inflamed, or discolored gums
  • The production of pus or bleeding from your gums
  • Receding gums, or gums that appear to be pulling away from your teeth
  • Loose teeth
  • Frequent bad breath

Any of these signs could mean an infection of the gums, such as periodontitis. If you suffer from these, you should consult your dentist immediately.

How to Protect Your Dental Health

In order to best protect your heart, how can you maintain good dental health? Experts have a few key tips for keeping your smile bright:

  • Brush your teeth twice daily for at least two minutes each time. Dentists recommend using a soft bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. Be aware that brushing too hard can damage your gums and strip the enamel off your teeth.
  • Floss regularly
  • Use mouthwash after flossing or brushing to rinse out food particles and further prevent negative bacteria growth.
  • Replace your toothbrush at least once every three months, if not more often.
  • Visit your dentist regularly for checkups and cleanings
  • Avoid smoking.

Taking some forms of medication can also have a negative impact on your dental health. Antihistamines, antidepressants, painkillers, diuretics, and decongestants can all lower your body’s natural saliva production.

Saliva plays a vital antibacterial role in your mouth’s ecosystem. Healthy saliva production helps wash away food particles and neutralize harmful acids, so low saliva production can leave you at a greater risk for infection. If your medication causes dry mouth, working closely with your dentists can help mitigate the risks of low saliva production.

Lastly, it’s important that a lot of the factors for heart disease are the same as the risk factors for mouth disease. Poor diet and smoking are particularly dangerous, and can affect the heart and oral health equally.

Some experts suspect that individuals who brush twice a day may be at a lower risk for heart disease because they pay the same attention to other aspects of their health. Having a regular dental health care outline can go a long way toward making you a healthier individual overall.

A Happy Smile, A Healthy Heart

There are many factors that impact dental health, and just as many that impact cardiovascular health. Contemporary studies suggest that the two also impact each other.

A regular dental care routine, regular visits to the dentist, and refraining from smoking or eating an unhealthy diet can keep your heart and your mouth working as they should. Who knew that the way to a healthy heart was a happy smile!

TAGGED:dental caredental healthdentistryheart healthheart health and dentistry
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

9 Lifestyle Tweaks That Can Add Years to Your Life
9 Healthcare Lifestyle Tweaks That can Add Years to Your Life
lifestyle
July 11, 2025
car accident lawsuit
Let Your Lawyer Handle the Work Before You Pay Medical Costs
Policy & Law
July 6, 2025
women dental care
What Is a Smile Makeover and How Much Does It Cost?
Dental health
June 30, 2025
HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps
Top HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps for Healthcare Teams
Global Healthcare Policy & Law Technology
June 25, 2025

You Might also Like

Mitral Valve Repair Without Open Surgery – Exciting Development in Medical Devices

April 20, 2011
Image
Cardiology

The Problem With Manual CPR

March 12, 2013
healthcare technology
CardiologyMedical DevicesTechnology

Q&A Part Two: Technology & Healthcare Efficiency—Not Always the Perfect Match

June 26, 2014
orthodontist
Specialties

Here’s How To Choose The Right Orthodontist For Invisalign

February 27, 2019
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?