The American Association of Public Health Dentistry (AAPHD) agrees with the conclusions of the recent literature review published by the American Heart Association (AHA) that found strong proof of an association between periodontal disease and heart disease.
People with periodontal disease have a greater chance of having heart disease than people with healthy gums, and the link between periodontal disease and heart disease exists separately from other risk factors, such as cigarette smoking, diabetes, or obesity, the AAPHD noted in a press release. The AHA study confirms earlier reports (Circulation, April 18, 2012).
More studies are needed to show if gum disease directly causes heart attacks and strokes, according to the AAPHD. Studies now show that treating periodontal disease can lessen the level of some factors in the blood that help cause heart disease.
