Daily Health News Blog

Research has linked gum disease and  cardiovascular disease. Will treating one help prevent or reverse the other? Ads for Colgate Total say that maintaining healthy teeth and gums may be important for overall health. They strongly imply that antibacterial toothpaste can help prevent “heart disease, diabetes, and stroke.” Some studies do suggest there’s a link between periodontal (gum) disease and cardiovascular disease. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that gum disease  causes  heart disease and strokes. Periodontal disease may merely indicate that you are at increased risk. The theory is that periodontal disease, a bacterial infection of the gums, can trigger inflammation elsewhere in the body, and chronic inflammation is now thought to contribute to atherosclerosis—that is, plaque formation in the arteries that leads to coronary artery disease and stroke. A simpler explanation may be that people who take good care of their teeth and gums tend to have a better...