{"id":140,"date":"2019-09-05T18:15:52","date_gmt":"2019-09-05T18:15:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.friscoperio.com\/blog\/?p=140"},"modified":"2019-09-16T20:18:28","modified_gmt":"2019-09-16T20:18:28","slug":"how-gum-disease-is-connected-to-heart-disease-and-why-it-matters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.friscoperio.com\/blog\/2019\/09\/how-gum-disease-is-connected-to-heart-disease-and-why-it-matters\/","title":{"rendered":"How Gum Disease is Connected to Heart Disease and Why It Matters"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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If you care about keeping your heart healthy, a great way to\nget started is to make sure you\u2019re taking proper care of your gums. According\nto many studies on the subject, gum disease and heart disease show strong signs\nof being linked. It\u2019s just another reason why at-home brushing and flossing\nmatter so much, even more so than previously thought.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their connection has not been explicitly identified just\nyet, but researchers do know that having gum\ndisease in Frisco<\/a> can increase your risk for certain heart conditions,\nincluding coronary artery disease. Today, we\u2019ll go over the commonalities the\ntwo conditions share and what you can do to protect yourself going forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

What Gum Disease and Heart Disease Have in Common<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

According to researchers, the main connection between these\ntwo conditions is the bacteria that causes both of them. Essentially, gum\ndisease is caused by a specific strain of bacteria. As gum tissue breaks down,\nthis bacteria can travel from the mouth into the bloodstream. Afterwards, it\ncan easily travel to the coronary arteries and cause clot formation and arterial\nblockage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, this is not the only commonality. The inflammatory process\ncaused by gum disease can also play a part in plaque formation. Gum disease and\nheart disease carry the same inflammatory markers. If both conditions share\nbiomarkers, it means that inflammation on its own could be the aspect that\nlinks them together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As research continues, we\u2019ve only found more evidence that the\nrisk for developing heart disease is significantly increased when you have gum\ndisease. Today, gum disease is considered a risk factor for heart disease by\ndental professionals. The good news is it\u2019s also suggested that treating\nunderlying periodontal disease can help reduce the risk of developing heart\ndisease, at least in some patients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Can You Protect Yourself?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you have heart disease or fear that you\u2019re at higher risk\nof developing heart disease, there are a handful of ways you can make sure that\nyour gums stay healthy. Take a moment to review them below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n