This is how it can affect your arteries

The American Heart Association has released a new scientific statement in which he warns that there is increasing evidence that gum disease is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events, such as heart attack, stroke, atrial fibrillation, heart failure, and cardiometabolic conditions.

Therefore, he warns that effective prevention and treatment of gum disease, also called periodontal diseasecould potentially reduce the burden of cardiovascular diseases.

The new scientific statement from the American Heart Association, published in its flagship magazine Circulationpresents new data supporting an association between periodontal disease and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and updates the Association’s 2012 scientific statement.

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseasethe leading cause of death worldwide, is caused by the buildup of arterial plaque (fatty deposits in the arteries) and refers to conditions including coronary heart disease, stroke, peripheral arterial disease and aortic aneurysms.

“The mouth and the heart are connected,” says Dr. Andrew H. Tran, chair of the scientific statement writing group, pediatric cardiologist and director of the preventive cardiology program at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, United States.

“Periodontal disease and poor oral hygiene can allow the entry of bacteria to the bloodstreamcausing inflammation that can damage blood vessels and increase the risk of heart disease, he continues. Brushing, flossing, and dental checkups Regular meals not only contribute to a healthy smile, but are also important for protecting the heart.

The new statement explains that periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory condition. The earliest stage is gingivitis (inflammation of the gums due to the accumulation of dental plaque). If left untreated, it can progress to periodontitiswhere the gums begin to separate from the teeth, forming small pockets that can trap bacteria and cause infection.

The most advanced stage, severe periodontitis, involves extensive damage to the bones that support the teeth; Teeth may become loose and fall out. This stage usually requires surgical intervention.

Periodontal disease is more common in people with poor oral hygiene and other risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, such as high blood pressure, overweight or obesity, diabetes and smoking.

The prevalence of periodontal disease is also higher among men, older adults, people with low physical activity, and people affected by adverse social determinants of health, such as a low socioeconomic status, food insecurity, or lack of access to health careincluding dentistry.

Although periodontal disease and ASCVD share common risk factors, recent data indicate an independent association between both conditions.

According to these experts, the possible biological mechanisms that link periodontal disease with an unfavorable cardiovascular prognosis include direct pathways, such as bacteria in the blood and vascular infectionsas well as indirect pathways, such as chronic systemic inflammation.

Numerous studies have shown that the periodontal disease It is associated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction, stroke, atrial fibrillation, heart failure, peripheral arterial disease, chronic kidney disease, and cardiac death.

Although periodontal disease clearly contributes to the chronic inflammation associated with ASCVDa causal relationship has not been confirmed. There is also no direct evidence that periodontal treatment helps prevent cardiovascular diseases.

However, treatments that reduce exposure to inflammation throughout life appear to be beneficial in reducing the risk of developing ASCVD.

Treatment and control of periodontal disease and associated inflammation can contribute to the prevention and better management of ASCVD. People with one or more risk factors for cardiovascular disease are considered at higher risk and may benefit from Periodic dental check-ups and specific periodontal care to address chronic inflammation.

Previous studies have shown that more frequent tooth brushing is associated with a lower 10-year risk of ASCVD (13.7% for brushing once a day or less vs. 7.35% for brushing three or more times a day) and a reduction in inflammatory markers.