Pasadena February Newsletter
Protect Your Heart Via Your Gums!

When determining the connection between gum health and heart health specifically, it’s important to take multiple research studies into consideration.

To start, a 2016 study conducted in Sweden at the Karolinska University Hospital found that gum disease increases the risk of a first heart attack by 28 percent. Furthermore, a 2014 study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine notes that those who had received adequate care for their gum disease had between 10 to 40 percent lower cardiovascular costs compared to those who did not.

Regardless of the study, the common link between gum disease and heart disease is essentially inflammation caused by the spread of bacteria throughout the body. When gum disease develops, it allows bacteria that’s typically exclusive to the mouth to travel through the bloodstream and towards the heart. This bacteria attaches to the heart, then triggers an inflammatory response.

It cannot be stressed enough how dangerous inflammation is for your health, especially when it comes to your heart.

The good news is while gum disease is a risk factor for heart disease, preventing issues with your gums is relatively simple and straightforward. If you’re looking for the best ways to prevent gum disease from developing, take note of these proactive tips from our office.

• Brush twice a day with fluoridated toothpaste, making sure to brush along the gumline.
• Floss daily to remove plaque from the sides of teeth.
• Visit our office once every six months for a thorough cleaning and examination.
• Avoid all tobacco products as they are proven to increase your risk for heart and gum disease.
• Eat a balanced diet of foods that promote gum health (ex. onions, leafy greens, peppers, citrus fruits, apples, celery, carrots, and low-fat dairy products.)

If you aren’t sure if you have gum disease, look out for the following symptoms. If you have either one or multiple listed here, there’s no better time than now to get scheduled and visit our office. These symptoms include:

• Red, swollen or tender gums
• Gums that bleed while brushing, flossing or eating
• Gums that recede or make your teeth appear longer
• Chronic bad breath, even after brushing

With this information in mind, we hope that you consider paying our office a visit to protect your gums and as a result reduce your risk for heart disease. Our office is fully-equipped to reverse the early stages of gum disease as well as treat existing gum disease before it does permanent damage. We hope to see you soon!