Higher Heart Attack Risk with More Mouth Bacteria

As time goes on, research persists, and more answers are discovered, researchers are coming closer with each new study to determining exactly the connection between the bacteria that can cause severe gum disease and, eventually, heart disease. While past studies have previously suggested the connection between mouth bacteria and heart disease, there have actually been very few studies that have directly tested this theory.

Luckily, for this crucial find, at least one direct study now exists—and the results are interesting to say the least. Out of Buffalo’s University of New York, a team of researchers conducted a study, which showed how a set of oral pathogens within the mouth was linked to an elevated risk of heart attack. The study also showed it was the total germ count—no matter the type—that was more significant for heart health.

According to Dr. Oelisoa Andriankaja, the postdoctoral researcher in UB’s Oral Biology Department who also conducted this study, "The message here is that even though some specific periodontal pathogens have been found to be associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease, the total bacterial pathogenic burden is more important than the type of bacteria." More simply put, per Dr. Andriankaja, the number of so-called “bugs” in a person’s system is more medically significant than a single kind of organism.

For Dr. Andriankaja’s study, a total of 386 people, both women and men, who ranged between ages 35 and 69 and had previously had one or more heart attacks, were used. As well, 840 individuals who did not have previous heart troubles were used as the control group. Dental plaque samples were gathered from every participant’s gums at 12 different sites within the mouth. The team of researchers examined the samples, specifically looking for signs of six common kinds of bacteria associated with periodontal disease as well as the total numbers of each bacteria type.

The analysis indicated that the heart attack patients had more of the different types of periodontal bacteria compared to the individuals in the control group. Only two of the bacteria species, however—Preventella Intermedia and Tannerella Forsynthesis—showed a substantial association with a raised risk of having a heart attack. The results also showed that elevated levels of various periodontal bacteria increased the chances of suffering a heart attack.

After her study’s publication, Dr. Andriankaja, though the results do indicate a potential connection between mouth bacteria and heart health, stressed that future studies are required in order to fully gauge this potential connection. She specifically called for more studies measuring mouth bacteria in patients who have suffered heart attacks and for those measuring mouth bacteria in patients without previous heart problems upon entering the study.

Are you a senior in New Hampshire looking for supplemental discount dental plan to help cover your costs? Please visit our website for more information, click here.

Copyright: bialasiewicz / 123RF Stock Photo