In recent years, diseases of the gums and teeth have been implicated as risk factors for heart disease, particularly cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis. However, the research data is conflicting and more research is necessary to determine the extent of the connection between cardiovascular disease and diseases of the gum and teeth.

Even so, proper dental care includes many heart-healthy recommendations, such as smoking cessation and a healthy diet. Good dental hygiene is vital to achieving and maintaining optimal general health.

Although the connection between cardiovascular and periodontal diseases needs further investigation, there appears to be a link between gum disease and some types of heart infections.

Heart patients may need to take preventive (prophylactic) antibiotics before and after having any dental work done, particularly those with heart murmurs, valvular heart disease, mechanical valves, or various congenital heart defects.

A patient with a mechanical valve may be prescribed a higher dose of preventive oral antibiotics than the standard published oral antibiotic dosing schedule. In addition, some physicians may choose to administer the antibiotics intravenously, rather than orally, to achieve an even higher antibiotic blood level.

People with heart-related conditions may also need to take special precautions to avoid the development of periodontal disease. For example, patients who take medication for either high blood pressure (hypertension) or epilepsy will need to monitor for a side effect called drug-induced gingival overgrowth, which can contribute to periodontal disease. Also, people with diabetes will also need to pay special attention to controlling their blood sugar levels, chole cholesterol levels and triglyceride levels to reduce their increased risk of periodontal disease and heart disease.

Researchers have found that people with periodontal disease are almost twice as likely to suffer from coronary artery disease as those without periodontal disease. Several theories exist to explain the link between periodontal disease and heart disease. One theory is that oral bacteria can affect the heart when they enter the blood stream, attaching to fatty plaques in the coronary arteries (heart blood vessels) and contributing to clot formation. Blood clots can obstruct normal blood flow, restricting the amount of nutrients and oxygen required for the heart to function properly, and this may lead to heart attacks.