At the Perio & Cardio Workshop 2019, researchers and doctors from the European Federation of Periodontology (EFP) and the World Heart Federation (WHF) discussed the links between cardiovascular disease and gum disease.
While cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, periodontitis is the sixth most common chronic condition, and the two diseases are linked more often than people think.
To reduce the risk factors for heart disease, it is therefore essential to promote dental hygiene and gum care: this was the conclusion of the latest Perio & Cardio Workshop 2019, held in Madrid at the end of February.
Cardiologists should be aware of the connection between gum disease and heart disease and encourage their patients to be screened for periodontitis and to maintain good oral hygiene.
Evidence suggests that patients with severe gum disease are at greater risk of heart attack and stroke, particularly if they have already had a cardiovascular event.
This is because bacteria in the mouth can travel into the circulatory system and promote inflammation and hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis).
Although more research is needed on the effect of dental treatment in patients with cardiovascular disease, current evidence suggests that the progression of the disease can be influenced by good oral hygiene and successful periodontal treatment.
The EFP and WHF guidance and recommendations will soon be published in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology; in the meantime, let’s look after our gums for the sake of our heart.
