Researchers conducted a new study that showed that the gum diseases and poor oral hygiene leads to an increased risk of heart diseases.
Associations all over the world have been conducting studies which shows the relation between bad oral hygiene and gum diseases and heart diseases, however, it is still considered as an insignificant theory that bad oral hygiene contributes to atherosclerosis (narrowing of the blood vessels), stroke or heart diseases.
Some researchers have actually discovered that the bacteria that causes gum diseases actually is the same bacteria which also increases heart disease rate or stroke. Few researchers have said that “We wish that associations all over the world will acknowledge the link between oral diseases caused by poor oral hygiene to the increase in heart diseases. This view may change the way how physicians diagnose and treat the heart diseases patients and help to understand the patient in a much better way."
Understanding the connection between gum diseases to heart diseases and the dynamics of this relation can lead to more studies and subsequent researches would prove to be revolutionary in the field of dentistry. It will change the view of how a physician looks at patients with heart diseases and could provide careful attention and better diagnosis.
Few researchers conducted studies on mice with four different bacterias namely Porphyromonas gingivalis, Treponema denticola, Tannerella forsythia, Fusobacterium nucleatum , as these are the same bacteria that causes or increases the risk of heart diseases. Researches when found the presence of bacteria in gums, heart, arteries and aorta of the mouse, there was an increases in the cholesterol and inflammation which are associated with the increase of risk factors for heart diseases.
The mouth is expected to be gate of the body and that the bacteria entering into the mouth has direct connection between systemic diseases and oral hygiene, study concludes. These studies could help to spread the awareness among the physician about the links between oral health and heart diseases which will help them to diagnose the problem more efficiently, study says.
Severe cases of gum diseases leading to tooth loss is found in 15-20% of middle- aged (35-45 years) adults according to the World Health Organization.
Having a good understanding about the treatment of gum diseases inpatients with the heart diseases is very important and can lead to more accurate diagnosis of the disease and careful attention to the patient about the oral health against the heart diseases can be given.
Bacteria which are present and grow under the gums, on the teeth and the bone supporting the teeth causes the gum diseases. The initial stages during which the disease is spreading is usually without any symptoms and people may not notice the effects of the diseases on gums. Therefore, to keep and maintain the oral hygiene, one must be regular with their dental checkups and follow-ups.