For far too few of us, the link between dental health and heart disease is unknown. A large part of the reason for this ignorance is because that many don’t take much notice where gum disease is concerned as symptoms are hardly noticeable-at first. However, common dental problems such as gum disease can spread beyond the oral cavity and affect other systems in the body, like the heart or brain.
If the gum disease is not eliminated in the early stage, known as gingivitis, then it will spread below the gum line where advanced periodontal disease problems like peridontitis will manifest. In all cases, the origin of common dental problems is harmful bacteria which are always found in the oral cavity. The anaerobic bacteria population is generally kept under control by using good oral hygiene practices such as daily brushing and flossing. However, when common dental health product usage fails to contain the microbes, an infection will start because of the increased bacteria population.
The harmful bacteria in your mouth actually form the plaque which ossifies into tartar when it is not removed. Periodontal disease treatment will be necessary if this hardened layer of tartar is not eliminated by a teeth cleaning treatment by your dentist. The bacteria breed faster behind the tartar which means that the infection grows at a faster rate and does more harm when a dental cleaning procedure is not performed and the layer is allowed to remain. The infection will spread below your gum line and then start to destroy gingival and bone tissue until your teeth literally begin to loosen and eventually fall out is advanced periodontal disease treatment is not performed quickly.
Scientists and researchers now believe anaerobic bacteria migrate from oral cavity if gum disease prevention fails to neutralize their population. Once the teeth actually fall out, the infection tends to spread first to the jaw bon. These harmful microorganisms will then enter the bloodstream and eventually attach themselves to fatty plaques responsible for causing blockages in arteries and leading to heart problems. If periodontal disease treatment fails or does not occur, these harmful bacteria will attach themselves to fatty plaques and effectively speed the process of clotting.
Other medical problems may arise if the bacteria responsible for dental health problem such as infective endocarditis. The condition is actually little more than an infection within the chambers and arteries of your heart and it is caused by the same bacteria responsible for advanced periodontal disease. Given enough time, the infection will cause growths to develop which can break off. Once free, these infected growths will travel through your blood where they can lodge in other critical organs, such as the brain where they may cause stroke or other serious complications. Typical advanced symptoms of the condition include:
- Always seem to feel tired or run-down, even during midday
- Very low-grade fever that never actually goes away but tends to linger for weeks at a time
- Mild to moderate headaches at all hours of the day or night
- May notice awakening with chills or with night sweats
Dental health and heart disease are intricately linked and the cost for avoiding advanced periodontal disease or even something as mild as gingivitis may very well prove to be the cause of serious medical problems in the future.
