Links Between Cardiovascular Health and Oral Health
A visual report from CareQuest Institute explores the relationship between cardiovascular (heart) disease and periodontal (gum) disease, which are both extremely common in the US. Individuals with gum disease have two to three times the risk of experiencing a heart attack, stroke, or a severe cardiovascular event.
Additional key points include:
- Infected and unhealthy gums can increase the risk of developing infective endocarditis (IE), particularly among individuals with existing cardiovascular issues. This issue is of particular concern for children with a heart condition.
- Among children with a heart condition, about one in six have at least one sign of poor oral health.
- Oral health is worse for children with a heart condition who also have an intellectual or developmental disability, live in poverty, or lack insurance.
- Routine preventive dental care and regular brushing and flossing can reduce gum disease and the risk of related heart diseases.
The authors write that collaboration between dental and medical providers is critical to improving health outcomes.
With heart disease remaining the leading cause of death in the US, we must continue to consider the role of our oral health in the health of our hearts.
You may also be interested in:
- Oral-Systemic Interactions and Medical-Dental Integration: A Life Course Approach, a report that provides a comprehensive overview of the bidirectional nature of oral and systemic diseases and discusses how medical-dental integration can improve access to care and health outcomes.
- Another Billion Reasons for a Medicare Dental Benefit, a report finds that including periodontal treatment in Medicare has the potential to save up to $27.8 billion annually for patients with heart disease.
- Periodontal Treatment Associated with Decreased Diabetes-Related Treatment Costs, an article in The Journal of the American Dental Association suggests that expanding Medicaid benefits to include periodontal treatment could reduce health care costs for patients with diabetes.
