Does Dental Health Affect Your Heart?

Podcast Transcript

Announcer:
Welcome to Love Your Heart. Brought to you by Cleveland Clinic's Sydell and Arnold Miller Family Heart, Vascular and Thoracic Institute. These podcasts will help you learn more about your heart, thoracic and vascular systems, ways to stay healthy and information about diseases and treatment options. Enjoy.

Dr. Nicholas Ruthmann:
I'm Nick Ruthmann, a cardiologist here at the Cleveland Clinic. We all know we're supposed to brush our teeth to keep our mouth healthy. When I was a kid, my mom would tell me most nights at bedtime to, "Only brush the teeth you want to keep." And now there's research that brushing your teeth may actually keep your heart healthy too. We've been studying the connection between oral health and heart health for a long time. And though we haven't found that taking care of your teeth will definitively prevent heart disease, some studies have found that people with gum disease may be twice as likely to have a heart attack or a stroke. One reason for this is that gum disease is linked to increased inflammation in the entire body. Add to that cardiac risk factors like high cholesterol and diabetes, and these factors are all linked to the development of heart blockage in our arteries.

Dr. Nicholas Ruthmann:
Gum disease can also create a portal for bacteria to enter. The bloodstream. Research has shown that the same bacteria from common oral infections has also been found in plaques and blockages that form in our heart arteries. And if left untreated, can lead to a heart attack. Or the same plaques can break loose, leading to a stroke. You especially want to be careful. If you have artificial heart valves. Bacteria from your mouth can also enter an attack heart valves, potentially leading to heart failure and the need for surgery. It's important for patients with artificial heart valves to take antibiotics prior to dental procedures.

Dr. Nicholas Ruthmann:
We are continuing to research this. But there are enough studies now that show a link between gum disease and heart disease that I recommend to my patients to be sure to practice good oral hygiene. That keeping your mouth, teeth and gums healthy is an important part to keeping your whole body healthy, especially your heart.

Announcer:
Thank you for listening. We hope you enjoyed the podcast. We welcome your comments and feedback. Please contact us at heart@ccf.org. Like what you heard? Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts or listen at clevelandclinic.org/loveyourheartpodcast.