Oral Health and Heart Disease are Related
An extensive study was carried out by the University of Helsinki and The National Institute for Health and Welfare. This study found a correlation between tooth loss and future cardiovascular events, diabetes and death. Further, as the study found, advanced tooth loss can indicate that you have a history of inflammatory oral diseases. This confirms that oral health and heart disease are related.
For some time now, the Dental Health Blog has educated you of the direct relationship between oral health and body health. This study has provided proof of the strong association between tooth loss and heart disease.
Tooth loss and increased mortality rates
Non-communicable diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, are the most common cause of death worldwide. These diseases are known to associate with inflammatory oral diseases, such as periodontitis. Now we discover that the link between gum disease and heart disease may be even stronger than supposed.
The results of the study are unsettling:
- More than five missing teeth increased the risk for coronary heart disease events and myocardial infarctions by as much as 140%.
- More than nine missing teeth indicated an increased risk for cardiovascular diseases (51%), diabetes (31%), and death (37%).
Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease in the tooth-supporting tissues. Periodontitis appears as gingival bleeding, increased tooth mobility, and deepened periodontal pockets. Gum disease may result in the loss of teeth if left untreated. Gum disease is the most common cause of tooth loss in the middle-aged and elderly.
As research continues into the link between oral health and serious diseases, and the increasingly obvious connection between them, we can only stress the importance of maintaining a healthy mouth throughout your lifetime.
We at The Colorado Center for Implant and Prosthetic Dentistry are available to help you determine effective solutions to all of your dental problems. If you would like more information from your Littleton area Prosthodontist, please call to make an appointment today.