Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, affects about two-thirds of adults over 65. It begins when a sticky layer of food and germs called plaque accumulates around the teeth. Gum irritation and bleeding are common in the early stages of gingivitis. In its most severe form, periodontal disease can cause teeth to become loose and fall out if treatment is not received.
People with periodontal disease are roughly twice as likely to suffer a heart attack as those with healthy gums. Some of this link may be explained by shared risk factors, such as smoking, eating poorly, or not having access to dental and medical care. But several viral and bacterial illnesses also seem to raise the risk of stroke and heart attack.
“Your mouth is a gateway to the rest of your body, so it is not surprising that your oral health can affect your overall health and vise versa,” says Dr. Tien Jiang, a prosthodontist in the Harvard School of Dental Medicine’s Department of Oral Health Policy and Epidemiology. Additionally, mounting evidence points to bacteria and inflammation as potential causes of the connection between the mouth and the heart.