Gum Disease and Heart Health

Is There Really a Connection Between My Gums and My Heart?

It may sound surprising, but decades of medical research have shown a consistent link between gum disease and heart disease. Gum disease, known medically as periodontal disease, is one of the most common chronic infections in adults, affecting nearly half of all Americans over 30. Heart disease remains the leading cause of death worldwide. The American Heart Association has reviewed the evidence connecting these two conditions twice, in 2012 and again in 2024, and both times concluded that people with gum disease face a higher risk of heart problems. This doesn't mean that gum disease directly causes heart attacks, but it does mean that the two conditions share important risk factors, and that the chronic infection in your gums may be placing extra stress on your cardiovascular system.

How Much Higher Is the Risk?

Multiple large studies have looked at this question. Overall, people with gum disease appear to have roughly a 20% higher risk of developing heart disease compared to people with healthy gums, and for people under 65, the increased risk may be even greater. The link with stroke is also significant. Studies have found that people with moderate to severe gum disease may have anywhere from 1.5 to 2.5 times the risk of suffering a stroke, with the risk climbing as gum disease becomes more severe. A 2024 review that examined dozens of previous studies confirmed that across the board, the research supports a meaningful connection between gum disease and cardiovascular problems.

How Could Gum Disease Affect My Heart?

There are two main ways that gum disease may contribute to heart problems.

Bacteria in the Bloodstream

The first involves bacteria. When your gums are infected, the tissue around your teeth becomes inflamed and can break down, allowing bacteria from your mouth to enter your bloodstream. Researchers have actually found oral bacteria inside the fatty deposits that build up in clogged arteries. Once in the bloodstream, these bacteria can promote inflammation in the walls of your blood vessels and contribute to the process that leads to blocked arteries.

Chronic Inflammation

The second pathway involves inflammation. Gum disease isn't just a problem in your mouth; it creates a low-level inflammatory response throughout your entire body. Your body responds to the chronic gum infection by releasing inflammatory chemicals into your bloodstream. Over time, this ongoing inflammation can damage the lining of your blood vessels and contribute to the same kind of buildup in your arteries that causes heart attacks and strokes. A joint report by the European Federation of Periodontology and the World Organization of Family Doctors identified this shared inflammation as the most likely explanation for the connection.

Can Treating Gum Disease Help My Heart?

The evidence is encouraging. Studies have shown that treating gum disease, particularly with a professional deep cleaning called scaling and root planing, reduces the levels of inflammatory chemicals in your blood and improves how well your blood vessels function. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that intensive gum disease treatment led to measurable improvements in blood vessel health within six months.

While researchers have not yet proven that treating gum disease directly prevents heart attacks or strokes, controlling the infection in your gums removes a source of chronic inflammation that your body may have been fighting for years. Think of it as turning down a slow burn that has been quietly stressing your system in the background.

What If I Also Have Diabetes?

If you have diabetes, this connection becomes even more important. Diabetes and gum disease feed off each other: high blood sugar makes gum infections worse, and untreated gum infections can make blood sugar harder to control. Since diabetes is also a major risk factor for heart disease, having both conditions at the same time can compound your cardiovascular risk.

The good news is that treating gum disease has been shown to help improve blood sugar control, which may benefit your heart health as well. Managing your gums, your blood sugar, and your heart health works best as a team effort between your dental and medical providers.

What Can I Do?

The most important thing to understand is that taking care of your gums is an investment in your whole-body health. If you have been diagnosed with gum disease:

• Keep your cleaning appointments. Your dental team may recommend visits every two to three months instead of the usual six.
• Follow through on recommended treatment. Whether it's a deep cleaning or a surgical procedure, understand that this isn't just about your teeth. It's about reducing a chronic infection that may be affecting your heart and blood vessels.
• Practice excellent home care. Brush twice a day and clean between your teeth daily with floss, interdental brushes, or a water flosser.
• If you smoke, consider quitting. Quitting is one of the most powerful things you can do for both your gums and your heart.
• Let your physician know about your gum disease. It's relevant information for your overall health picture.

You are your own best advocate. Understanding this connection puts you in the driver's seat of your health. Treating gum disease isn't just about saving your teeth. It's about protecting your heart.

Sources

This guide is based on peer-reviewed research published in leading medical and dental journals, including statements from the American Heart Association and the European Federation of Periodontology.

• American Heart Association. Periodontal Disease and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease: A Scientific Statement. Circulation. 2024.
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• D'Aiuto, F., et al. (2004). Journal of Dental Research, 83(2), 156–160.
• Eke, P. I., et al. (2015). Journal of Periodontology, 86(5), 611–622.
• Fazal, I., et al. (2023). Drug Target Insights, 17, 31–38.
• Herrera, D., et al. (2023). Journal of Clinical Periodontology, 50(6), 819–841.
• Janket, S. J., et al. (2003). Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Oral Radiology, and Endodontology, 95(5), 559–569.
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• Lockhart, P. B., et al. (2012). Circulation, 125(20), 2520���2544.
• Periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease: umbrella review. (2024). BMC Oral Health, 24, 1207.
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