Did you know there may be a hidden connection between poor oral health, such as gum disease or tooth loss, and cardiovascular disease? For many people, it may be a surprising news. In recent years, many studies have shown that people who have poor oral health have higher rates of cardiovascular problems such as heart attack or stroke than people with good oral health. In fact, a report by the US Surgeon General in 2000 showed that oral health may be related to over ninety percent of systemic health issues.

Literature does not only suggest an oral-cardiovascular connection. It also suggests a connection between poor oral health and other health issues, such as rheumatoid arthritis and cancer. Rheumatoid arthritis risk increases with the presence of Porphyromonas gingivalis, a bacterium linked to periodontal disease. Furthermore, the presence of this bacterium has also been linked to the occurrence of pancreatic cancer. That is why it is critical to understand how your oral health may affect your cardiovascular health.

At Vascular Care Specialists of Los Angeles, Dr. Mathew Cheung and Dr. Peter Lin discuss a possible link between oral health and cardiovascular health. In this article, you will learn several factors which link poor oral health to cardiovascular problems such as heart attack and stroke. More importantly, you can learn some natural ways you can do to improve your oral health and thereby lower your risk of cardiovascular disease.

There is much debate as to whether an oral-cardiovascular connection actually exists. Thus far, much literature suggests the same issues cause both oral and cardiovascular conditions. Some studies, taking various factors into account that cause oral as well as cardiovascular conditions, also show that many instances of cardiovascular disease may result from oral conditions. There are many theories about what causes the correlation between oral-cardiovascular issues.

1. Bacteria – One theory suggests that bacteria is the culprit. While bacteria in the mouth may cause oral health issues like periodontitis and gingivitis, they may also enter the bloodstream. Once in the bloodstream, the bacteria may travel to various parts of the body. There, they may cause inflammation in the blood vessels that may ultimately result in heart disease and even stroke.

Interestingly, oral bacterial remnants have been found in parts of the body such as the atherosclerotic blood vessels. These are a significant distance from the mouth.

2. Immune Response

Another theory suggests your immune response is at fault. Your immune response results in inflammation. Inflammation may cause a cascade of events, including vascular damage, that may affect not only heart health but brain health as well.

3. A Third Factor

Many researchers claim there is no oral-cardiovascular connection. Instead, they put forward the idea that something else, a third factor, is at play that causes both conditions. Possible “third factors” may include smoking, not getting enough exercise, or even poor healthcare access.

However, this does not account for the incidence of heart disease in the presence of poor oral hygiene when these factors are omitted.

Over 800 different bacteria have been identified in the mouth. The most common oral condition in people is periodontal disease.

Various research shows an oral-cardiovascular connection. One such study shows a strong link between periodontal issues and various cardiovascular conditions like coronary heart disease, atherosclerosis, and several acute coronary events. Furthermore, a 2019 study indicates the presence of bacterial DNA from bacterial species called viridans streptococci in the thrombus of people with acute ischemic stroke. Those conducting the study concluded that the bacteria, traveling from the mouth cavity, may contribute to thrombi events relating to cerebrovascular conditions.

According to a 2018 study, periodontal disease increases your coronary disease risk. It further increases your risk if you are over 65 years of age.

Studies also suggest a strong correlation between oral conditions and systemic inflammatory conditions. According to data, this association is the result of looking at host immune mediators as well as inflammatory mediators. A study published in 2019, for example, showed that several bacterial species associated with periodontal disease (T. denticola, T. forsythia, A. actinomycetemconitans, and P. gingivalis) could contribute to prediabetes. Furthermore, they speculated that periodontal disease and diabetes may share comorbidities due to the presence of these bacteria.

With regards to prevention, a study indicated that those practicing good oral hygiene tended to have a lower incidence of cardiovascular disease. This may be due to proper oral hygiene discouraging the presence of bacteria in the oral cavity.

This implies there are several steps you can take to protect your oral-cardiovascular health, as we will discuss shortly. However, first, it is helpful to know how stress can affect your heart health.

Conventional medicine looks at addressing each symptom as a separate health issue. You may get medications for one issue while the root cause is not looked at. Functional medicine, on the other hand, sees each organ system and body process as connected and addresses the body as a whole.

1. Proper Oral Hygiene

To reduce the risks posed by the oral-cardiovascular connection, start with proper oral hygiene. Doing so will minimize the presence of the many bacteria commonly found in the oral cavity.

• Brush your teeth both morning and night.
• Floss at least once a day (twice is better).
• Gargle with a decent quality mouthwash – natural mouthwashes have no additives.
• Scrape your tongue daily.
• See your dentist every six months for a checkup and have your teeth cleaned at least once a year.

Coconut oil and Arimedadioil are both good oil-pulling options. When oil pulling, put one teaspoon of the oil in your mouth and swish it around for about twenty minutes. Spit it out into the trash, rinse your mouth, and brush your teeth. Do not swallow the oil because it contains bacteria and other toxins.

Coconut oil has many benefits. It has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. This means it can help get rid of bacteria and help address inflammation in your mouth. It may also help whiten your teeth and reduce plaque, an indicator of gingivitis.

Arimedadioil is an Ayurvedic oil that has long been used in India to inhibit plaque growth and improve gingivitis symptoms. It may also heal mouth sores, reduce swelling, and improve gum and tooth health. You should not use this oil if you have sinusitis, however. It may aggravate your symptoms.

2. Natural Mouth Wash to Promote Oral-Cardiovascular Health

Various natural mouthwashes may help improve oral health and address gingivitis.

• Adding half a teaspoon of salt to a glass of lukewarm water is a great, natural mouthwash that may help reduce the bacterial content in your mouth. It may also help soothe inflamed gums and relieve bad breath.
• You could also try a lemon grass mouthwash. You just need to add three drops of lemon grass essential oil to a cup of water. This mouthwash option may reduce plaque and help combat gingivitis.
• Aloe vera is another good mouthwash option. What is more, you do not need to dilute it. Aloe vera may reduce plaque and gingivitis. Never swallow your mouthwash, however. Always spit it out after swishing it around in your mouth for about thirty seconds.

3. Supplements for Oral-Cardiovascular Support

Certain supplements may promote oral-cardiovascular health. Others promote each individually. The following support both.

Please note that when considering the use of supplements for any type of health issue, please first talk to your healthcare provider. They are best able to determine the supplement’s suitability, taking your health or use of medications into account. Supplements may interact with certain medications.

4. Vitamin B

Vitamin B may help promote oral-cardiovascular health in several ways. They may lower your amino acid homocysteine levels. This amino acid has been linked to the incidence of heart disease. Folic acid in particular may help reduce your heart attack and stroke risk.

People with poor gum health and periodontal issues tend to have lower vitamin B levels. This is especially the case in older adults. Furthermore, people with a diet low in folate levels have an increased risk of bleeding gums. Literature also suggests that children suffering from a vitamin B12 deficiency have more gum issues than those with normal levels of this vitamin.

5. Green Tea

Drinking green tea or using a green tea extract may provide oral-cardiovascular support. The tea may lower your LDL (bad) cholesterol levels, raise your HDL (good) cholesterol levels, and lower your triglyceride count. In doing so, it may support heart health.

Concerning oral health, it may inhibit bacterial growth while reducing inflammation. It may also help with gum bleeding if suffering from periodontal disease.

6. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)

Your body produces small quantities of this enzyme. It is also called ubiquinol or ubiquinone. CoQ10 has powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It may lower your blood pressure levels while lowering the side effects of drugs that lower your cholesterol levels.

The enzyme also has a marked effect on periodontal disease. It may reduce gum inflammation, reduce gum bleeding, and boost the levels of antioxidants in your gum tissue.

7. Omega-3 Fatty Acids

The powerful anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties of omega-3 fatty acids are due to the presence of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoicacid (EPA). Omega-3 may drive down your triglyceride and blood pressure levels. This may help reduce your risk of heart disease.

Regarding periodontal disease, the antibacterial properties of these fatty acids may help reduce the number of bad bacteria in your oral cavity. It may also reduce plaque levels and protect against gum damage.

Whether the link between your oral health and cardiovascular health is direct, indirect or coincidence, a healthy mouth and a regimen to keep it that way (including not smoking, and getting regular dental care) can help you keep your teeth. That’s reason enough to do what you can to make oral health a priority. Perhaps it will turn out to have other benefits though much of that remains speculative.

At Vascular Care Specialists of Los Angeles, we strive to provide the best service, care, and results possible. If you have circulation problem related to your arteries or veins and would like to seek consultation with a vascular surgeon, give us a call at 626-275-9566 to schedule an appointment. You can also visit us at www.vcsla.com for more information.