Why might gum disease be linked to heart disease?
Studies in the past have suggested that the bacteria that cause gum disease may increase the rate at which arteries become blocked. The researchers believe that bacteria can leave people’s infected gums and enter the bloodstream, activating the immune system (the body’s defence mechanism) and making their artery walls inflamed and narrowed. Another theory is that the bacteria enter the blood and attach themselves directly to the fatty deposits that are already present in a person’s arteries, causing further narrowing. Could the increase in the risk of heart disease be due to a different cause entirely? Other lifestyle factors are known to increase the risk of heart disease, and they are often associated with poor dental health as well. For example: • smoking • poor diet • low income Some experts do not believe that the bacteria that cause gum disease are really responsible for increasing heart disease risk. Instead, they argue that the gum disease is due to smoking, poor diet or low in
