Heart of the matter: How good oral hygiene protects your heart

Heart disease is a serious health issue in Australia. It's estimated up to 4.5 million Australians are living with cardiovascular disease (CVD), which kills one in 4 people nationally.¹

Some commonly known risk factors for heart disease are obesity, smoking and excessive alcohol intake. However, there may also be a link between how healthy our mouths are and our risk of developing heart disease.

According to NSW Health, there is a direct link between gum disease and heart disease.

Simply put, certain bacteria in the mouth can narrow blood vessels, which increases our risk of a heart attack.²

"Gum disease has been linked to an increased risk of developing heart or blood vessel problems, although we still don't fully understand how they are linked," says Dr Cathryn Madden, Head Dentist at Bupa Dental.

"If harmful bacteria take over, the theory is that it can release substances that cause the blood vessels to become sticky. It's that sticky property that attracts cholesterol and can lead to fat and cholesterol build up. The artery walls can harden, which effects blood flow, and arteries become blocked, which can lead to coronary heart disease."

Like heart disease, gum disease is common with nearly one in 3 adult Australians living with the condition.³

"We know that both gum disease and heart disease have some common risk factors," says Dr Madden. "An unhealthy diet with high sugar and high fat content, consumption of alcohol and smoking are all common risk factors for both conditions. Chronic inflammation is also a common factor."

Gum disease can be present with very mild symptoms, so it's important to maintain good oral health and see your dentist regularly for check-ups.

If gum disease (also known as gingivitis) is present, you may experience some of the following symptoms:

• redness and/or swelling of the gums
• bleeding gums during or after teeth brushing
• persistent bad breath
• a bad taste in your mouth
• receding gums
• teeth or mouth sensitivity
• loose teeth.³

Reducing your risk of gum disease is an important step in staying heart healthy. You can do this by brushing twice daily with a fluoride toothpaste, flossing every day, cleaning dentures daily if you have them and seeing your dentist every 6 months for a check-up.

Regular flossing is also said to help reduce your risk of stroke.⁴

Other ways to support good oral hygiene and overall good health include:

• avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol intake
• doing regular physical activity
• drinking water
• eating a healthy, balanced diet and limiting sugar intake.²

"Although we can't eradicate all risk factors for heart disease with things like regular exercise and brushing our teeth, we can make sure we're always working towards good overall health and good heart health," says Dr Madden.

Eating a well-balanced diet is important for overall health, but certain foods can benefit healthy gums more than others, says Dr Madden.

Dr Madden recommends eating:

• oily fish
• nuts and seeds
• milk and cheese
• probiotic-rich foods
• fruits and vegetables that are rich in fibre, such as bananas and broccoli.

"It's important to drink plenty of water and incorporate vitamin C into your diet, which plays an important role in gum health," she says.

If you have any signs or symptoms of gum disease, see your dentist immediately.