Hidden threat to heart due to poor oral hygiene identified

New research shows that poor oral hygiene and gum disease can have far-reaching consequences for the heart and blood vessels, causing a whole range of dangerous diseases.

Oral health directly affects the overall health of the body, and in recent years this connection has become increasingly clear. The focus is now on a severe form of gum disease, periodontitis, which has become not only a local problem, but also a risk factor for the development of coronary heart disease, heart attacks, strokes and infective endocarditis.

Stories and statistics point to an increase in diseases related to poor oral hygiene, and show that often ignoring dental hygiene rules is more dangerous than previously thought. In the long term, such violations can lead to inflammatory processes involving blood vessels and internal organs, especially the heart, which emphasizes the need for timely prevention and treatment.

The most striking example of this is the hypothesis about the connection between bubonic plague and modern oral diseases. It is explained that in the Middle Ages, the plague took millions of lives, and modern science draws attention to the fact that the bacteria that cause gum disease and their impact on the body may have similar pathological mechanisms.

One of the key links in this chain is considered to be inflammation that occurs in the gum tissue during periodontitis. Constant irritation and accumulation of plaque lead to tissue inflammation and destruction of the gum structure, which, in turn, facilitates the penetration of bacteria and their toxins into the bloodstream. This behavior breaks down the vascular wall and contributes to the development of atherosclerosis - the main mechanism for the formation of coronary heart disease.

Oral bacteria such as streptococci have been shown to damage the vascular endothelium when they enter the bloodstream, which contributes to the formation of plaque on the walls of arteries, narrowing the lumen and increasing the risk of acute heart attack or stroke. Moreover, in extreme cases, bacteria can penetrate the heart and cause infective endocarditis - a severe inflammation of the inner lining of the organ that requires immediate intervention and a long course of antibiotics or even surgery.

Epidemiological studies confirm the link between gum disease and cardiovascular disease. For example, people with periodontitis are twice as likely to develop coronary heart disease compared to those with healthy mouths.

Because inflammation and bacteria can enter the bloodstream, they increase internal vascular inflammation, leading to rapid plaque development and progression. As a result, the patient is at increased risk of acute heart attack, stroke, or the need for complex surgery to clear the vessels.

The reasons for poor oral hygiene remain poor nutrition, smoking, alcohol abuse, stress, vitamin deficiency and poor dental care.

"Smoking, in particular, significantly weakens gum tissue and worsens the immune response. Alcohol causes dry mouth, which increases the development of bacteria and worsens the microbiome," experts explain. Doctors note that timely elimination of inflammation and treatment of gum disease can reduce systemic inflammation and, therefore, reduce the risk of thrombosis and heart attacks.

Research shows that an imbalance called dysbiosis contributes to increased inflammation and negative effects on cardiovascular health. According to experts, future studies are planned to examine genetic factors that influence susceptibility to oral and cardiovascular diseases, as well as their interaction with lifestyle and the environment.