Not Weight, Not BMI: Scientists Say This Is A Great Indicator Of Heart Health

Protecting your heart health doesn't have to be complicated, but it undoubtedly takes an ongoing commitment to a healthy lifestyle and management of certain health factors. To the latter point, some of these factors include following the American Heart Association's latest blood pressure guidelines, as well as managing your blood sugar and cholesterol. A healthy diet and regular exercise are two lifestyle habits that are not only good for your heart, but they may also help you achieve a healthy weight and body mass index (BMI) that might decrease your risk of developing heart disease. While the importance of weight and BMI (and more importantly, waist-to-hip ratio) are considered critical to lifelong heart health, there's another commonly overlooked factor that may contribute as well: oral health. 

Scientists know that oral health and related issues such as gum disease can have a direct correlation with poor heart health. First, it's important to understand what's involved in your oral health. Simply put, oral health involves every part of the inside of your mouth, and particularly your gums and teeth. The mouth is technically the upper part of your digestive tract, and any issues in this area can have direct impacts on other parts of the body. This includes your heart. What's more, gum disease and other oral health issues are directly linked with increased cases of heart attack and stroke. Among these concerning signs are tender or red, bleeding gums, unexplained mouth sores, and loose teeth. On the flipside, adults with good oral health may have a reduced risk of heart health problems.

When it comes to the link between oral health and heart health, there isn't one single cause. Over the years, researchers have instead pinpointed several possible connections between these two important health aspects. One of the more established links involves harmful bacteria in the mouth. When a person develops gingivitis in the gums from such germs, these may possibly travel through the blood vessels and to the heart. According to Harvard Health, there have even been reports of oral bacteria found in the arteries. Such effects can increase the risk of endocarditis, which is a potentially life-threatening infection of the heart. Overall, the thought here is that preventing mouth diseases could be protective against heart attack or stroke by preventing damage to blood vessels caused by oral bacteria.

Another theory involves inflammation. Chronic inflammation is a noted underlying factor of several types of diseases because of the way it damages healthy cells throughout the body. Long-term inflammation is not only a direct risk factor for heart disease development, but it can affect your oral health, too. Inflammation in the mouth can even have a cascading effect to other areas of the body, including your heart, and it may increase the risk of high blood pressure and overall blood vessel damage. Oral inflammation is also linked with periodontitis, which is a serious type of gum infection that's connected with heart disease risk.

It's also possible that a person may have oral health and heart health issues without any identifiable connection. In such cases, it's possible that other factors might contribute to both states. One notable example is smoking, which can increase the risk of heart disease, tooth decay, and gum disease.

While the overall connection between oral health and heart health is well-established, there are other issues that can arise. For example, if oral bacterial infections are left untreated, these may increase the risk of germs traveling to the lungs and leading to pneumonia. On the flipside, certain chronic health conditions such as diabetes, cancer, and HIV/AIDS may lead to poor oral health, which can then increase the risk of cardiovascular issues related to severe gum disease.

The good news is that good oral hygiene habits can go a long way in reducing the number of bacteria in the mouth that can subsequently affect your heart and other areas of the body. Daily flossing and brushing twice a day can get rid of plaque-forming bacteria while reducing harmful inflammation in your mouth. Regular dental cleanings and checkups can also provide your dentist with an opportunity to assess your oral health and note any possible signs of gum disease. When caught early, treatment may help to prevent complications in other parts of your body.

Making oral health a priority may go a long way in improving other aspects of your health when combined with other good lifestyle habits. In other words, you might be doing yourself a huge disservice if you make it a point to exercise and avoid some of the unhealthiest foods for your heart, but you also skip out on brushing and flossing your teeth regularly. Keep tabs on your oral health in between dental checkups and report any concerning signs.