Dr. Tarsys Loayza Roys said that recent research has confirmed the close relationship between periodontal diseases and the health of the heart system. In fact, “it is now known that this link is much closer than previously thought,” says the general director of Sonrisa Perfecta Dental.
The new elements that have emerged increase the importance of keeping the oral cavity completely free of disease and in perfect hygiene. This implies that anyone who wants to prevent negative episodes with their cardiovascular system must maintain permanent supervision of the health of their teeth and gums.
Periodontal diseases are very prevalent
The importance of the new findings has a direct impact on public health in general due to the high prevalence of cardiovascular problems. According to the National Institute of Health, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Colombia. However, Dr. Tarsys Loayza Roys warns, it is good to clarify that its age-adjusted mortality rates are on the decline.
In the United States, cardiovascular disease affects more than 80,000,000 people in some way. Because it is considered a public health problem, many efforts have been made to determine the variables that affect its morbidity. These variables have been classified as primary and secondary risk factors.
Primary risk factors are those whose incidence in cardiovascular disease has been duly proven. Secondary risk factors do not have a direct relationship consolidated by studies, but they can increase the probability of suffering from cardiovascular disease. The same person can face both types of factors and see their probability of suffering from heart disease increased.
Primary risk factors include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity or overweight, and smoking. There is also lack of physical activity, gender (women tend to suffer more serious heart attacks), age, and family history.
Dr. Tarsys Loayza Roys explains how periodontal diseases affect the heart
Now, periodontal diseases affect cardiovascular health in a direct way. Dr. Tarsys Loayza Roys explains that the bacteria that cause tartar, periodontal disease (infections) and cavities move. They travel through the gums and enter the bloodstream using the arteries as viaducts.
In the arteries, they stick to the cholesterol present through the so-called atheroma plaques, generating inflammatory processes. These inflammations obstruct the proper functioning of blood pumping and the heart can be affected. The result is that the person is more prone to heart attacks, valvular disease and infectious endocarditis.
She explains that untreated periodontitis and chronic gingivitis are caused by periodontopathic bacteria. These “invade endothelial cells and stimulate the production of pro-inflammatory mediators that favor the development of atherosclerosis.” Dr. Tarsys Loayza Roys points out that this is not the only way of affecting the cardiovascular system.
Another thing that the most recent studies have revealed is that there is a second form of relationship between the mouth and cardiovascular pathologies. This is generated by the increase in proinflammatory cytokines that stimulate the expression of adhesion molecules in the endothelium (e-selectin, ICAM-1 and VCAM). The process favors the migration of leukocytes to atheromatous lesions.
We cannot neglect
The biggest problem posed by the new evidence that periodontal diseases affect the heart is the high incidence of these diseases. Between 45 and 50% of the world’s population suffers from periodontitis. It is the sixth most prevalent human condition, which implies an unprecedented exposure to heart problems.
For Dr. Tarsys Loayza Roys, the first thing is to adopt a lifestyle that helps prevent both conditions. This means eliminating smoking, avoiding stressful situations, maintaining a healthy body weight and a diet very limited in fats and sugars. It is important to eat foods that stimulate the immune system so that the body acquires greater resistance to bacteria.
The other measure to adopt is also essential and is to visit the dentist regularly. Make immediate visits if you notice discomfort or inflammation in the gums. Eliminate cavities or other types of infections that can cause periodontal diseases as soon as possible. Keeping the mouth under professional supervision is now more than ever a matter of life.
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