The Heart-Mouth Connection for Overall Health

Can brushing your teeth and attending regular dental visits help your heart? “Yes, your mouth is the entrance of gastrointestinal tract. It is important to make sure your teeth, gums and tongue are healthy,” says Kim  H. Allen, MD, Preventive Medicine Physician at Cooper Clinic. The mouth has multiple places where bacteria can accumulate, for example between your teeth and at the gumline. The types of bacteria found in the mouth include:

• Naturally occurring bacteria
• Bacteria that is inhaled
• Bacteria that is consumed

If you have an open wound in your mouth, such as a small cut, bacteria can enter the bloodstream and cause an infection inside your body. “Those who have been diagnosed with a moderate or advanced stage of gum disease are at greater risk of heart disease,” says Dr. Allen. Periodontal or gum disease is an infection that affects the tissues surrounding your teeth. If bacteria from the teeth or gums enter the bloodstream, it can travel to the heart and cause infection of the heart and damage of the heart valves. These types of infection can affect multiple organs and lead to complications including stroke, heart failure and kidney failure.

Warning Signs

So, what does poor oral health look like? While many may believe it’s bad breath, Dr. Allen shares five major symptoms associated with poor oral health:

• Tooth decay
• Gum inflammation, pain or bleeding
• Bad breath
• Tooth sensitivity
• Tongue changes or coating

Poor oral hygiene can be caused by numerous factors, not just by forgetting to brush your teeth. “Certain medications, chronic health conditions such as diabetes, autoimmune diseases and dry mouth may also be factors associated with an individual’s poor oral health,” says Dr. Allen. Smoking and consuming excessive amounts of alcohol also cause inflammation and further decay.

Dr. Allen explains that while we can often see and feel these warning signs ourselves, it’s important to visit your dentist because they are equipped to see well into the oral cavity.  A dental professional, when seen regularly, can see changes in your mouth such as space between the teeth, inflammation and an abscess. If your dental professional identifies issues of concern, they can address and help treat them and also recommend you see a doctor for further diagnosis if needed.

Dr. Allen explains, “a person can go to the dentist for their regular check-up and not know they have an illness. For example, during the examination, a dentist may find an abnormality like excessive bacterial/plaque accumulation bleeding or dry mouth. These abnormalities may be a result of an autoimmune disorder the patient would not have known of before the dental visit.”

Proper Oral Hygiene

To help prevent inflammation, discomfort and other oral issues, Dr. Allen recommends four steps for good oral hygiene:

1. Brush and floss your teeth, tongue and gums twice a day.
2. Floss two to three times a day.
3. Use oral rinses but avoid ones that have high alcohol levels.
4. See a dentist at least two times a year.

For those who have health conditions such as diabetes, Dr. Allen recommends visiting the dentist at least three times a year due to their increased risk of gum disease.

To learn more about your overall health, schedule a comprehensive preventive health exam at Cooper Clinic by visiting cooper-clinic.com or calling 866.906.2667.