Poor oral health tied to much higher risk of heart attack, stroke
Poor oral health significantly increases a person’s risk of experiencing adverse cardiovascular events such as strokes and heart attacks, according to new data published in Neurology Open Access.[1]
Researchers tracked data from nearly 6,000 patients with a mean age of 63 years old. All patients presented with no prior history of ischemic stroke or coronary heart disease. The median follow-up period was 21 years.
Overall, patients with gum disease and cavities saw their stroke risk increase by 86%. Patients with gum disease alone saw their stroke risk increase by 44%. In addition, patients with gum disease and cavities faced a 36% higher risk of experiencing a major cardiovascular event such as a stroke or heart attack. These trends remained in place even when making adjustments based on a variety of patient factors.
“These findings suggest that improving oral health may be an important part of stroke prevention efforts,” senior author Souvik Sen, MD, MS, a professor with the University of South Carolina, said in a statement from the American Academy of Neurology.
Sen et al. also noted that regularly visiting a dentist appeared to reduce a person’s risk of having both gum disease and cavities by 81%.
“This study reinforces the idea that taking care of your teeth and gums isn’t just about your smile; it could help protect your brain,” Sen added. “People with signs of gum disease or cavities should seek treatment not just to preserve their teeth, but potentially to reduce stroke risk.”
The authors did emphasize that they are not saying poor oral health causes strokes or other cardiovascular complications. These findings only prove that there is an association between the two things. More research is still needed to uncover more details.
Click here for the full analysis.
Michael has more than 19 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.