Dr. Vishaj S. Maru
Dental Practitioner
Mumbai
‘Stress is a major component of cardiac events. It may not cause disease, but can trigger heart attack.’
The cardiovascular system is a blood transportation network comprising the heart and blood vessels. Heart is vital to life, as its essential function is pumping oxygenated blood to the brain and vital organs.
So, if a person suffering from any cardiovascular problems, here is why oral health is even more important?
In 2012, experts from the American Heart Association reviewed the available scientific evidence and concluded that poor oral health hasn’t been proved to cause heart disease and that treating existing gum disease hasn’t been proved to reduce the risk of heart disease but there appears to have some connection between oral health and heart disease, further research is still on going.
Poor dental health increases the risk of a bacterial infection in the blood stream, which can affect the heart valves. Oral health may be particularly important if you have an artificial heart valve. The bacteria that infect the gums causes gingivitis and periodontitis. Bacteria also travels to blood vessels and elsewhere in the body where they cause blood vessel inflammation and damage, tiny blood clots, heart attack and stroke may follow. Rather than bacteria causing the problem, it’s the body’s immune response and inflammation that sets off a cascade of vascular damage throughout the body, including the heart and brain.
Dental Care and Heart Disease
- Give your dentist a complete detailed history with list of the names and dosages of all the drugs you are taking for your heart condition. This will help your dentist decide on the best treatment course for you, including the appropriate medications to use for dental procedures.
- Also give your dentist contact details of your cardiologist/ physician.
- If you are particularly nervous about undergoing a dental procedure because of your heart condition, talk to your dentist and cardiologist. Your doctors can provide you with information and work with you on strategies for controlling dental pain and easing your fears.
- If you are taking anticoagulants (blood thinners) do inform your dentist. These medications could result in excessive bleeding during some oral surgery procedures.
- If your strokehas impaired your ability to produce an adequate amount of saliva, your dentist may recommend the use of artificial salivary chewing gums. If your stroke has affected your face, tongue, or dominant hand and arm, your dentist may also recommend use of fluoride gels, modified brushing or flossing techniques, rinsing.
- Patients with angina treated with calciumchannel blockers may have gum overgrowth. In some cases, gum surgery may be needed.
- While patients with chest painthat occurs in a predictable pattern can undergo any dental procedure, patients with new chest pain or unpredictable chest pain should not undergo nonessential dental procedures, physician consent will always be required if any treatment has to be carried out.
- Emergency dental care will be performed in a hospital or office equipped with cardiac monitoring capability in fewer cardiac cases.
It is important to recognize the importance of oral health, especially of chronic oral infections for cardiovascular health and quality of life.
If you’re concerned about heart disease prevention, ask your doctor about proven ways to reduce your risk such as stopping smoking and various other chewing habits and maintaining a healthy weight.
Even though oral health isn’t a key to heart disease prevention, it’s important to take care of your teeth and gums:
- Brush your teeth at least twice a day.
- Floss daily.
- Schedule regular dental check-ups and cleanings.
- Eat healthy.
“Do what it takes to start, to have a healthy heart.”
