By FELIX MICHAEL
"Mama Chigozie, what have you used for this your toothache? I have used “touch and go” o. Don't worry, the pain go soon go."
This is the reality we face in Nigeria. We often treat dental care as a secondary health concern; something to be addressed only when a toothache prevents us from eating or sleeping. The mouth has always been treated as a separate entity from the whole body. However, research shows that this "separation" is a myth.
Your mouth is not just for savouring sumptuous meals, speaking or for aesthetics. It is a gateway. What happens in your mouth can either protect or harm your systemic health. As our understanding of human biology deepens, it has become impossible to ignore that the mouth is not an isolated member, but a major route to the rest of the body.
THE MOUTH AS AN ENTRANCE TO THE BODY
Your overall health is called systemic health. Diseases that affect the entire body and health are called systemic diseases. Because every part of the body is connected, these diseases do not affect only one organ in the body.
As the starting point for the digestive tract and a secondary entrance to the respiratory tract, the mouth serves as a gatekeeper. When oral health is compromised, this gatekeeper becomes a gateway for diseases.
In this article, we will be exploring the link between our oral health and the cardiovascular system. How our Oral health ultimately affects the state and wellness of our hearts and blood vessels.
HOW ORAL HEALTH AFFECTS THE HEART
There are many bacteria in the mouth, many of which are normal flora which under normal conditions they cause no harm and are helpful to the body. However, poor oral hygiene can lead to the accumulation of dental plaque, a sticky film made of bacteria that can cause gum diseases such as gingivitis and periodontitis.
When the gum becomes inflamed, they develop microscopic sores and lesions that allow bacteria and their toxins to enter the bloodstream. Once bacteria from the oral cavity enters the bloodstream, they can attach to damaged areas in blood vessels and heart valves. This can contribute to and promote the formation of atherosclerotic plaques, which narrow arteries and reduce blood flow. Thus increasing the risk of heart disease and ultimately causing a stroke.
MAJOR CARDIOVASCULAR CONDITIONS LINKED TO ORAL HEALTH
The effect of neglecting proper oral health care isn't limited to a single type of heart problem. It spans across different cardiovascular diseases:
1. Infective Endocarditis
This is a disease that causes infection directly on the inner lining of the heart chambers and valves (endocardium).
It occurs when bacteria from the mouth, often Streptococcus species, enter the blood and settle on damaged heart valves or prosthetic heart devices. This is why patients with certain heart conditions are often prescribed antibiotics before dental procedures.
2. Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)
Recent studies have suggested a "dose-response" relationship between gum health and blood pressure. The more severe the gum disease, the higher the likelihood of hypertension. Chronic inflammation likely impairs the production of nitric oxide, a molecule essential for keeping blood vessels relaxed.
2. Heart Failure
Patients with fewer than 20 teeth or significant tooth loss have shown a nearly two-fold increase in the risk of having heart failure. This is likely due to a combination of chronic infection and nutritional deficiencies caused by the inability to chew healthy foods.
3. Coronary Artery Diseases
This is a condition in which there is a progressive narrowing of the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle. Oral bacteria promote the formation of foam cells which are also called lipid-laden macrophages and they directly contribute to the clogging of the arterial walls.
PREVENTION: HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR HEART BY PROPER ORAL HYGIENE
You don't need to be a millionaire to protect your heart through your mouth. Here are four simple things you can do:
1. Visit a Dentist whenever you have a toothache. Avoid home remedies such as using cow dung, cow urine, battery water, Tigernut, “touch and go”, etcétera. These materials only worsen the pain, and can complicate what was initially a simple toothache.
2. Stop using broomsticks or matchsticks to pick your teeth: Using a sharp broomstick, matchstick, or toothpicks to pick your teeth tears your gums and creates holes for germs to enter your blood. Use a dental floss instead and rinse your mouth well.
3. The TWO TIMES rule: Brush twice daily; in the morning after a meal and especially at night before bed. You don't need to use a very hard-bristled brush to be sure your mouth is clean. A soft or medium-bristled brush is better for your gums.
4. Salt water is not a cure: Many people think rinsing with hot salt water will cure every tooth problem. It can help soothe the pain for a day, but it won't treat the infection that is heading for your heart. See a dentist promptly.
4. Don’t ignore early warning signs: If your breath is always smelling even after brushing, or your gums are very red and swollen, don't wait to feel any pain. Visit the hospital promptly to see dentist for treatment before it gets worse.
References:
The oral microphone: Role of Key organisms and complex network in oral health and disease. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8457218/
Oral health; a window to your overall health. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/dental/art-20047475
The mouth is the mirror to the body. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10132356/#:~:text=to%20the%20Body%3A-,Oral%2DSystemic,Roopali%20Kulkarni