Does unhealthy gums affect my heart?
People with serious gum disease show clearly higher risks of heart attack, stroke and premature death in large-scale research. Whether that association is causal is not yet certain, but keeping your gums healthy is worthwhile regardless.
People with gum disease have a noticeably higher risk of serious heart problems. Studies combining data from nearly 4.4 million people show that the risk of a heart attack is 14% higher, the risk of a stroke 26% higher, the risk of dying from heart disease 42% higher, and the risk of dying from any cause 31% higher than in people without gum disease. Those are not small numbers. This is an association, however, not a proven cause and effect.
Whether gum disease also causes higher blood pressure is not yet certain, but people with a severe form have a 49% greater chance of high blood pressure than people without it. Genetic research, which can biologically test whether a direct causal link exists, has so far found no evidence that gum disease itself damages blood vessels. Confounding factors such as smoking and diabetes may partly explain the association.
One possible explanation for the link is that inflammation in the gums spreads through the rest of the body. Bacteria from the gums can enter the bloodstream and trigger immune responses that affect the walls of blood vessels. That mechanism makes good biological sense, but has not yet been definitively proven in people.
What is encouraging is that non-surgical treatment of gum disease, such as thorough removal of tartar, demonstrably lowers certain inflammation markers in the blood and the upper blood pressure reading. Whether that improvement also leads to fewer heart attacks has not yet been shown. If you use blood thinners and need gum treatment, discuss this with your doctor or dentist in advance, as extra coordination may be needed.
This answer draws on several large summaries of published research, including an analysis of nearly 4.4 million people from 39 long-running studies, an overview of 41 reviews, and separate genetic research. The researchers themselves emphasise that the association is consistent, but that evidence for a direct causal relationship is lacking. The genetic research, which is specifically designed to separate cause from effect, found no causal link. This is therefore a strongly and repeatedly observed statistical association, but not yet proof that treating gum disease prevents heart problems.
What is the link between gum disease and heart disease?
There is a consistent association between gum disease and a higher risk of heart disease, although it has not been proven that one causes the other. Taking good care of your gums is sensible regardless, but do not expect any guaranteed protection against heart disease from doing so.
Are calcium supplements bad for your heart?
Calcium supplements may be associated with an increased heart risk, but not all studies confirm this. It is best to get calcium from your diet, and discuss with your doctor whether a supplement is truly necessary for you.
Is high homocysteine bad for my heart?
High homocysteine is associated with a greater risk of cardiovascular disease, but whether it is the cause is not certain. Have your levels checked by your doctor and discuss whether dietary changes or supplementation make sense for you.
How harmful is prolonged stress really for my heart?
Prolonged stress measurably increases your risk of heart and vascular disease, particularly through work-related stress (10–40% extra risk in large population studies). The effect is real, but smaller than that of smoking or high blood pressure.
Is the Mediterranean diet really good for your heart, and why?
For people at increased heart risk, the Mediterranean diet is the best-supported dietary choice currently available. Both large studies in people and dozens of population studies confirm a lower risk of heart attack and stroke.
Is a calcium score of my heart worth doing?
For people between 40 and 75 years old in a grey zone regarding statins, a calcium score is a well-supported tool for making a well-considered decision about medication together with your doctor.