Tooth Decay and Gum Disease Has Now Been Linked to Heart Attacks

Heart attacks are on the rise in young adults. Researchers are showing a connection between gum disease and heart attacks. The common strain of bacteria in dental plaque causes blood clots, which can induce a heart attack when they are released into the blood stream.

These findings are the first to link bacteria to the formation of potentially fatal blood clots. In studies they have found that heart disease is twice as high in people with periodontal disease, although researchers don't know why. Finding the potential biological reason in laboratory test, colleagues removed dental plaque and injected it into rabbits. The bacteria injected into the rabbits caused blood clots and it only took minutes for the blood clots to form. Rabbits were used for testing this hypothesis, because research has proven that rabbits are a good model for testing heart disease and heart attacks in humans.

When plaque builds up it causes the gums to form chronic inflammation. This could be involved in causing inflammation of the lining of blood vessels that leads to the build-up of plaque in the arteries.

Studies have proven that a bacterium in plaque also are linked to a higher risk of delivering premature babies with low birth weights, and diminishes the response to vaccines against hepatitis B and influenza. It can also make a person have a weak immune system, and cause wounds to heal at a slow pace. It can cause lung infections in people who have Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease.

Bacteria rest in pockets caused by bone loss where teeth are attached. Dentist should communicate with their patients about the serious risk of poor dental hygiene. They can reduce the risk of disease linked to dental bacteria by having their teeth cleaned on a regular basis and floss daily. If you are someone who has had periodontal disease and you have had bone loss, it is best that you have bone implants.

If you are someone who has bad teeth, and you are experiencing chest pains, or pain in your left arm, these are signs that you may be having a heart attack. This is something you should not ignore. I know someone who was twenty-eight years old and had severe tooth decay. He developed these symptoms and ignored them. The end result was that he passed away due to a massive heart attack. Other than having bad teeth he was a healthy, young twenty-eight-year-old man with no known heart disease or health problems. Everyday, we wonder if he had just done things differently, would he still be here.

If your teeth are decaying and your gums are red and sore, then you need to see a dentist. It is important that everyone practice good dental hygiene. Not only will you have a healthier smile, but it also could just save your life.