Periodontal Disease and Coronary Heart Disease Risk

Abstract

Several infectious diseases have been implicated as possibly causing myocardial infarction (MI).¹ In related research, periodontal disease has also been related to coronary heart disease (CHD). Several observational studies have indicated that periodontitis, a chronic inflammatory periodontal disease that results in the breakdown of bone that surrounds teeth, may be associated with an increased risk for MI.^2-4 At least one cohort study indicated that gingivitis, an inflammatory periodontal disease without the breakdown of supporting bone, also increased the risk for fatal MI.⁵ Both the chronic low-level bacteremia that occurs with brushing or chewing and the elevation of inflammatory mediators in response to the bacterial biofilm growing on teeth^6-11 have been suggested as possible causal pathways for the increased risk of MI.