If you have both gum disease and cavities, your risk of a stroke, heart attack or other cardiovascular event sharply increases, researchers warn.
A team led by a researcher from the University of South Carolina looked at data from nearly 6,000 adults who had no prior history of stroke at the start of the study. Participants completed dental exams that assessed whether they had gum disease, cavities or both. Phone visits and medical records were used to determine which of the participants had a stroke over the course of the 20-year study period.
Compared with the participants who had clean dental exams, people with both gum disease and cavities had an 86% greater chance of experiencing a stroke. Likewise, the latter group was 36% more likely to have a heart attack or other cardiovascular event.
The good news? Regular dental visits can decrease your risk of gum disease and cavities by 81% – cutting your risks of strokes and cardiovascular issues.
“This study reinforces the idea that taking care of your teeth and gums isn’t just about your smile; it could help protect your brain,” said study author Souvik Sen, a clinical professor of neurology at USC. “People with signs of gum disease or cavities should seek treatment not just to preserve their teeth, but potentially to reduce stroke risk.”
The study was published in the journal Neurology Open Access.
