One of the leading causes of death in adults across the world is heart disease, and 30% of adult deaths globally are as a result of various disease-driven infections. Some of the causes of the disease are well known, but it’s shocking to learn that other causes that are generally unknown to most people can potentially put a lot of lives at risk.
When it comes to this, one of the causes of heart disease that many are unaware of is a dental infection.
Dental Infections
A dental infection occurs as a result of consuming foods with high sugar and lack of proper oral hygiene. Those factors will eventually lead to a tooth infection. Typical symptoms of a tooth infection include:
- Tooth abscess
- Swelling
- Pain when biting on food
- discoloration of the affected tooth
There are cases where one might have a dental infection and experience no visible symptoms. According to studies, dental infections can be a contributing cause to heart disease.
The Link Between Dental Infections and Heart Disease
Although the mouth and heart perform very different functions in the body, a dental infection that remains unattended can end up affecting the function of the heart.
A dental condition known as periodontitis is a good example. This condition is caused by poor oral hygiene, which leads to the infection of teeth and inflammation of the gum.
Such an infection poses dire health risks to the heart and lungs. As the body tries to fight off the bacterial overgrowth in cavities caused by periodontitis, the infection can easily find it’s way into the bloodstream and get to the heart.
Prevention of Dental Infections
The best line of defense in preventing dental infections is brushing teeth at least twice a day with a quality toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. Given that most dental diseases are a result of poor oral hygiene, these simple solutions help keep many dental issues at bay.
Regular visits to the dentist for teeth cleaning will help go along way to keep teeth healthy and free of infections. If one has a cavity or any dental issues, they should have them attended to promptly. That prevents a lot of unnecessary dental discomfort but also unwanted consequences such as heart disease due to an infected tooth.
Conclusion
Who would have thought that dental infections could harm one’s heart health? Now that it is a known fact neglecting to address any dental issues is akin to putting one’s overall health in jeopardy. Taking preventive dental measures ensures no one should have to worry about heart disease as a result of tooth infections. That means brushing teeth with fluoride toothpaste daily as well as visiting a dentist regularly for teeth cleaning. In the case of any cavities, a dentist will perform a root canal or filling to take care of the problem.