Are there links between gum disease and heart disease?
Recent studies suggest there are links between gum disease and heart problems. According to the American Academy of Periodontology, individuals with periodontal disease are nearly twice as likely to have coronary artery disease (heart disease). One study found that incidents of gum disease (and the mild form, gingivitis), cavities, and missing teeth were as good of heard disease predictors as high cholesterol levels. Moreover, a recent study published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association found that people who had higher blood levels of certain disease-causing bacteria in the mouth were more prone to atherosclerosis in the carotid artery in the neck.
