Tooth loss is linked to heart disease

A new study was conducted by researchers from Case Western Reserve University in Ohio, USA, linking tooth loss to an increased risk of death from heart disease, stroke, and other fatal heart diseases. Poor oral health is also a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease, a group of conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels, which together represent the leading cause of death worldwide.
Poor oral hygiene causes unusual pathogens to enter the gums, causing infections that enter the bloodstream and affect the heart.
The study pointed out that there are a group of other factors that play a role in heart health, from smoking and exercise to diabetes, cholesterol levels, and blood pressure.
The new study focused on severe tooth loss, pooling data from 12 published studies that each tracked oral and cardiovascular disease outcomes for between 3 and 49 years. “Our findings clearly show that tooth loss is an important predictor of mortality from cardiovascular disease,” says Anita Aminocharya, endodontist and dental researcher at the university.