This entry was posted on 2/7/2008 4:02 PM and is filed under Research.
Los Angeles, CA, February 07, 2008 -- Most Americans don’t know that dentists, as physicians of the mouth, can be the first line of defense for detecting potentially deadly diseases. New research continues to raise public awareness of the link between the mouth and heart. This news is particularly relevant in February—which marks National Heart Month, Children’s Dental Health Month, and of course, Valentine’s Day.
A study in the New England Journal of Medicine shows that periodontal disease contributes to blood vessel dysfunction, and is linked to arthrosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), which contributes to cardiovascular disease. According to the Academy of Periodontology, one out of three Americans over the age 30 have some form of periodontitis, which means one out of three Americans are also at a higher risk of heart disease from prolonged exposure to bacteria in the gums and bloodstream. Sadly, many of these adult maladies are set in motion by poor habits in childhood.
