How Oral Health Affects Heart Health

It’s one thing to talk about why oral health is important to a person’s overall health, but it’s another to show real-life examples of how a patient’s well-being has improved thanks to care from their Smile Generation®trusted dental professional.

When it comes to heart health, it’s been proven that gum diseases can cause bacteria to build up in the mouth1, leading to inflammation. That bacteria can then be carried to other parts of your body, most notably the heart, where it can have devastating effects.

Gum disease has been connected to systemic health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, pre-term/ low-weight births, cancer and more. Conversely, the link is often bidirectional. Many systemic diseases, conditions and even medications can affect a patient’s oral health.

That’s why when a patient walked into Mountain Dental Group in Nevada and had their blood pressure checked, the hygienist advised him that his blood pressure was high and he was at risk for a cardiac episode. A few days later, the patient began experiencing chest pain, sweating and weakness in his arms and legs. Remembering what the hygienist had told him, he quickly drove himself to the hospital, where he made it to the ER in time to save his life.

Another patient came to Falcon Park Dental Group in Colorado for an emergency dental visit because they had pain in their mouth. After discovering that the patient had heart murmurs and a family history of heart disease, the dentist performed a CBCT scan and not only discovered the source of the dental pain, but also detected some calcification in the artery leading from the neck to the heart. The patient was referred to a cardiologist and is now working on a treatment plan.

At Richfield Dentistry in Minnesota, a patient who had previously suffered a heart attack was receiving care for bleeding gums. Because of gum disease and its potential for affecting the heart, the dentist ordered a CBCT scan to rule out any further abnormalities. After his scan came back revealing no abnormalities, the patient was impressed with the technology and is determined to continue managing his oral health.

to Smile

Generation-trusted dental practices using Epic...

the most widely used comprehensive health records system in the United States. Using Epic allows patients and their healthcare professionals to view their medical and dental health records all in one place. That’s why healthier, happier patients are happening every day.