Parkville Dental Center

Coronary artery disease is a condition that can ultimately lead to heart attack and death. It is caused by a thickening of the coronary arteries due to fatty proteins clotting together and obstructing blood flow. No conclusive reason can be found as to why heart disease and gum disease area connected, but one thing that is certain is that the anaerobic bacteria are leading to the increased risks.

Scientists believe that the bacteria responsible for gum disease may enter the bloodstream and attach themselves to the fatty plaques which cause arteries to clog up. Failing to treat gum disease will cause this process of clotting to proceed even faster although the precise mechanism remains a mystery to scientists. What is known for certain is that one nearly doubles the risk of developing coronary artery disease when advanced gum disease is present.