Tooth loss and sign of heart disease

Tooth loss caused by gum disease may be a marker of heart disease before symptoms appear, according to latest reports by researchers.Preliminary findings from the Oral Infections and Vascular Disease Epidemiology Study (INVEST) suggest a link between tooth loss and sub clinical atherosclerosis – the symptomless build-up of artery-clogging plaque in the carotid arteries, the vessels that feed the brain. Some studies have suggested a link between gum disease and adverse events, such as heart attack and stroke. Researchers at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis enrolled 1,050 participants, age 55 and older. None had a history of heart disease or stroke. All participants underwent thorough dental, physical and neurological examinations. Their dental hygiene habits were recorded, including the number of times per week they brushed and flossed. Participants underwent ultrasound to detect plaque build-up in the carotid arteries. Researchers recorded socio-economic characteristics, and cardiovascular risk factors.

The prevalence of carotid plaque increased with the number of missing teeth. Among those missing zero to nine teeth, 45 percent had carotid artery plaque. About 60 percent of those with 10 or more missing teeth had plaque build-up in the vessels. Researchers speculate that tooth loss is an indicator of chronic infection or inflammation of the gums. Since tooth removal practices vary, researchers caution that not all tooth loss may indicate the same amount of severe gum disease. It was noted that many of the study participants with periodontal disease also have other risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as smoking, poor diet and low levels of physical activity. Tooth loss may be more than a simple marker for lifestyle because the relationship remained after accounting for the role of other risk factors and cultural factors. This study may begin to shed light on the potential but unproven link between the two diseases.