Gum Disease May Clog Your Arteries
The Roles of Periodontal Bacteria in Atherosclerosis
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Bacteria from the mouth are found inside human atherosclerotic plaques — not just floating nearby, but embedded in the actual clog.
Most people assume heart disease is caused only by cholesterol and lifestyle — the idea that your toothbrush could be directly seeding your arteries is counterintuitive and unsettling.
Practical Takeaways
Get regular dental cleanings and treat gum disease — especially if you have heart risk factors.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Bacteria from the mouth are found inside human atherosclerotic plaques — not just floating nearby, but embedded in the actual clog.
Most people assume heart disease is caused only by cholesterol and lifestyle — the idea that your toothbrush could be directly seeding your arteries is counterintuitive and unsettling.
Practical Takeaways
Get regular dental cleanings and treat gum disease — especially if you have heart risk factors.
Publication
Journal
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
Year
2023
Authors
Xiaofei Huang, Mengru Xie, Xiaofeng Lu, Feng Mei, Wencheng Song, Yang Liu, Lili Chen
Related Content
Claims (7)
Bacteria from gum disease can escape from your mouth into your bloodstream and may help cause calcium buildup in your heart arteries and valves, which can lead to heart problems.
A gum bacterium called Fusobacterium nucleatum is found in clogged arteries and linked to higher bad cholesterol and inflammation in mice and people.
The bad bacteria in your gums can sneak into your bloodstream and make immune cells in your arteries turn into fatty foam-like blobs, which is a key step in clogging your arteries and raising heart disease risk.
A type of gum bacteria called Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans is linked to more calcium buildup in arteries and higher levels of inflammation and bad cholesterol.
Having a certain type of gum bacteria called Porphyromonas gingivalis may be linked to worse heart disease — it seems to make plaque build up more in your arteries, damage the lining of your blood vessels, and cause more body-wide inflammation, which you can see in blood tests and artery scans.