Can tooth inflammation actually "damage" your heart? Huaxi doctors teach you 4 tips to protect your cardiovascular health

As the saying goes: Disease comes from the mouth

Oral and periodontal problems, directly or indirectly

Related to the health of the whole body

According to the fourth national oral health epidemiological survey report published in 2017, the periodontal health of adults in China is still not optimistic.

- The detection rate of gingival bleeding in the 35-44 age group was 87.4%, and the detection rate of dental calculus was 96.7%

- The detection rate of gingival bleeding in people aged 55-64 was 88.4%, and the detection rate of dental calculus was 96.4%

- The detection rate of gingival bleeding in people aged 65-74 was 82.6%, and the detection rate of dental calculus was 90.3%

Gum bleeding and tartar formation are closely related to dental diseases. If you experience the following symptoms , you probably have periodontitis:

According to the National Oral Health Epidemiological Survey, periodontal disease (including gingivitis and periodontitis) is one of the most common diseases that endanger the oral health of Chinese residents. Periodontitis has also been proven to be related to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular health.

So what exactly is periodontitis?

What are the hazards to cardiovascular health?

What doctors at West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University say

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Periodontitis is an inflammatory and destructive disease of the gums, alveolar bone, etc. caused by dental plaque bacteria. It is a common and frequently occurring oral disease that is not uncommon among the population and is the most important cause of tooth loss among adults in China.

Why does periodontitis cause teeth to loosen and fall out?

Let’s take an example:

If we regard the tooth root as a tree root, the periodontal tissue is as important as the soil surrounding the tree;

The destruction of periodontal tissues caused by periodontitis is like the loss of soil that nourishes trees.

Periodontitis not only damages soft tissues such as gums, but also causes loss of bone tissue around teeth, leading to retrograde pulpitis, loose teeth, tooth loss, etc.

Especially when the human immune function is low, the heart will be more susceptible to periodontal pathogens.

The consensus report jointly organized by the European Federation of Periodontology (EFP) and the World Heart Federation (WHF) and published in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology in 2019 stated: Existing epidemiological evidence shows that there is an important link between periodontitis and cardiovascular disease.

Some epidemiological surveys show that people with moderate to severe periodontitis have a significantly increased risk of developing cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, heart failure, myocardial infarction, and atrial fibrillation.

Data jointly released by the Chinese Dental Disease Prevention and Control Genetic Society and the Chinese Stomatological Association show that people with periodontitis are 1.5 times more likely to develop coronary heart disease than those with normal periodontal conditions, and their chance of developing a stroke is 2.1 times that of those with normal periodontal conditions.

So how does periodontitis affect the whole body?

First, everyone should know:

The total area of ​​micro-ulcer infection in the periodontal pocket of a patient with severe periodontitis is approximately the size of an adult's palm (about 72cm2).

Eating and brushing teeth can stimulate periodontal pathogenic bacteria and their toxic products, allowing them to enter the blood circulation through the micro-ulcer infection surface in the periodontal pocket, and then reach other distant organs in the body (such as the heart), causing varying degrees of infection.

In addition, long-term periodontitis will cause our body to be in a state of chronic inflammation. The long-term increase in the level of inflammatory factors in the blood circulation will promote pathological changes in the heart.

Therefore, periodontal tissue is not only very important for the stability of teeth and the health of the oral cavity, but is also "responsible" for the health of all organs in the body!

The World Health Organization (WHO) points out that oral diseases such as malignant tumors, cardiovascular diseases, and periodontitis are the "three major diseases" that endanger human health and need to be focused on prevention and treatment;

The World Dental Federation (FDI) white paper pointed out that periodontitis is closely related to a variety of systemic diseases. Focal infection and inflammatory response are the important basis for the association between periodontitis and systemic diseases. Severe periodontitis has a serious impact on socio-economic aspects. The global annual periodontal disease burden is approximately US$54 billion.

To this end, FDI launched the World Periodontal Health Campaign (GPHP) in 2017, calling for attention to periodontal disease, prevention and reduction of periodontal disease worldwide.

Therefore, everyone should try to improve oral care before periodontal disease or caries occurs to minimize the risk of cardiovascular disease caused by oral factors.

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Active cleaning

Remember to brush your teeth when you wake up in the morning and before going to bed at night. It is recommended to brush your teeth for more than 3 minutes each time, and try to brush your teeth with warm water. Especially rinsing your mouth and brushing your teeth 30 minutes after a meal is very effective in preventing tooth decay.

Brush your teeth correctly

The modified Bass brushing method, also known as the horizontal vibrating brushing method, is a widely recommended way of brushing teeth.

Brushing means gently wiping. Mastering this brushing method can help remove dental plaque on all tooth surfaces, and can also effectively remove dental plaque in the tooth neck and gingival sulcus:

Secondly, if you can use dental floss or interdental brushes to help clean the spaces between teeth while brushing your teeth every day, you can achieve the goal of thoroughly cleaning your teeth.

Seek medical attention promptly

If you experience clinical symptoms such as bleeding when brushing teeth, bleeding when biting hard objects, loose teeth, inability to bite things, abscesses on gums, bad breath, etc., you need to immediately find a professional periodontist to diagnose you and develop a personalized treatment plan.

Regular inspection

Special note: Periodontitis cannot be completely cured. You need to go to the hospital for regular checkups and maintenance to keep periodontitis under control. The frequency of follow-up visits will be determined by the periodontal specialist after the examination.

People without periodontitis also need regular checkups, especially those with heart problems.

Finally, thousands of words come together into one sentence:

Prevent cardiovascular disease by taking care of your oral cavity

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