(Image: Unsplash/Lesly Juarez)
Meanwhile, it is well known that the health of your mouth and teeth can influence the development of cardiovascular problems. But what may surprise you is that your saliva plays a crucial role. You can read exactly how that works here. More importantly, how can you do something about this?
Don’t you find it strange that dental care is not covered by basic insurance as standard? We take food and drink through our mouth every day, yet dental care is not covered. Really incomprehensible. That should be better regulated, because even your saliva can be to blame for heart problems.
Saliva can have a significant impact on your heart and blood vessels
You would think that inflammation in your mouth can only cause cardiovascular problems in older people or people with risk factors. But remarkably, this also applies to younger people. Even in them, saliva can provide clues about potential dangers to the heart and blood vessels.
And here comes the punch line: It doesn’t just affect the elderly, or those who are in a high-risk group. Even young and fit individuals cannot escape this discovery. So even when you’re feeling great, your mouth can still be the scene of a battle between good and evil.
Gingivitis, or gum disease, sounds like something exotic, but it turns out it doesn’t just affect your gums. It also affects your blood vessels. And if you thought plaque and tartar were just unwanted guests at your teething party, think again.
The bacteria in your mouth can secretly seep white blood cells into your saliva, as if they were the evil guardians of a medieval fortress. Your mouth acts as the bridge and is open to trouble. And the more your mouth misbehaves, the more likely your heart is to start sputtering.
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What is gingivitis?
Gingivitis is a gum disease caused by dental plaque. It causes redness, swelling and bleeding of the gums. Left untreated, it can lead to more serious gum problems and even be linked to cardiovascular disease.
A small, quick examination of your saliva is useful
Can we really detect the very first signs of heart problems with a simple saliva test? Sure. That’s exactly what American does scientists have discovered. They delved into the saliva of healthy participants and discovered that an excess of white blood cells in your mouth is linked to arteriosclerosis.
Even in young, fit people, a little inflammation can have a significant impact on your heart health. Researcher Trevor King emphasizes that this is of serious concern because it is one of the leading causes of death in North America – and it is probably not much different in Europe.
Periodontitis, that mouth problem that you might only associate with teeth, has turned out to be much more common. Scientific research has already established a link between this dental problem and cardiovascular disease. It seems that inflammatory cells simply enter your bloodstream through your gums and play a game with your blood vessels. King and his team have wondered whether even in healthy, young people with no obvious signs of periodontitis, there is a link between their heart health and the number of white blood cells in their saliva.
Researchers in Canada have also come to the same conclusion. “We are discovering more and more evidence for the relationship between oral health and the risk of cardiovascular disease,” said researcher Ker-Yung Hong. “If we see this link even in young, healthy individuals, it is high time to take a comprehensive approach early on,” added Hong.
(Image: Unsplash/Caroline LM)
The solution for your teeth… is erm… a solution
Fortunately, you can do something about this problem yourself quite easily. A group of 28 young adults between the ages of 18 and 30, all non-smokers with no health problems or gum problems, were recruited by the researchers for an exciting experiment.
Before entering the laboratory, they had to fast for six hours (water was allowed). Then the real work began: rinsing their mouths with water and then with some sort of saline solution.
Electrocardiograms were also taken, blood pressure was measured and even the stiffness of their arteries was gauged. Toronto researcher Michael Glogauer explains that this “mouthwash test” should really be an annual stop at your doctor or dentist. But you can also do the rinsing at home.
So even if you are not insured, it is definitely worth investing in this. After all, your teeth are not only a showpiece, but also an indicator of your overall health. Just rinse (do not swallow) and your heart and vessels may benefit from it.
Brush your teeth before or after breakfast? This is what the dentist says
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2023-08-23 17:36:29
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