Gum Disease & High Blood Pressure: Is There a Connection?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 50% of adults over the age of 30 have some form of gum disease. So, it’s safe to say that it’s a prevalent oral health concern among American adults. If left untreated, it can result in swollen gums, bad breath, and even loose teeth. But can it also lead to high blood pressure? Keep reading to learn more about the correlation between the two conditions.

So, How Are Gum Disease and High Blood Pressure Connected?

Dr. Francesco D’Aiuto, the head of the periodontology unit at University College London Eastman Dental Institute, recently shared that periodontal bacteria doesn’t just damage gums; it also triggers an inflammatory response that can result in high blood pressure. The study included 250 adults with gum disease and 250 adults without it. He found that participants struggling with this serious oral health concern were 2x more likely to have high systolic blood pressure. So, while the relationship between gum disease and high blood pressure isn’t a cause-and-effect one, there certainly seems to be a relationship between the two.

6 Ways to Help Prevent Gum Disease

The good news is that gum disease is largely preventable – you just need to incorporate the right best practices into your daily routine! Some important ones include:

• Brushing your teeth for a full two minutes each morning and evening
• Flossing and rinsing with mouthwash daily
• Getting a dental checkup and cleaning every six months
• Avoiding unhealthy dental habits, like smoking and nail-biting
• Eating a well-balanced diet that is low in added sugar
• Drinking plenty of water

How Is Gum Disease Treated?

How gum disease is treated depends largely on the severity. In the early stages, the combination of a solid at-home oral hygiene routine and a professional dental cleaning is sufficient. In more moderate cases, scaling and root planing is needed, which is designed to clean the pockets of plaque and bacteria. Advanced cases will need scaling and root planing with the addition of a topical antibiotic. Moving forward, your dentist will likely recommend coming in for a checkup and cleaning every three months instead of biannually.

High blood pressure can negatively affect your overall health, putting you at a higher risk of a heart attack, stroke, and kidney failure. That’s why it’s so important that you do your best to prevent it! Although it may seem small, something as simple as a solid oral hygiene routine can help.

About the Practice

At Ralph Avenue Dental Care, we focus on dentistry that benefits your oral and your overall health. In addition to having a general dentist, orthodontist, and endodontist on our team, we also have an in-house periodontist! As a result, we can help restore your healthy teeth and gums with unmatched precision and expertise. If you want to learn more about preventing or treating gum disease, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team via our website or by phone at (718) 531-0300.