Protect Your Gums, Save Your Heart: Periodontal Protection Helps Prevent Cardiovascular Issues

A new study conducted by researchers at Forsythn and Boston University discusses the important connection between mouth and heart health.

The study authors demonstrated how using an oral topical remedy can reduce inflammation that's associated with periodontis, or what's more commonly known as gum disease. Furthermore, it can help prevent vascular inflammation and lower the risk of heart attack.

For the first time, researchers have demonstrated how an oral treatment for gum disease can help to reduce inflammation in artery walls.

Yet the discovery underscores the importance of evidence that showcases how problems in the mouth are treated and how they can ultimately influence heart health in the future, along with other parts of the body as well. Making the decision now to keep the mouth healthy can ultimately influence how your body may fare overall in the future.

"Our research is helping to underscore the very real link between oral health and heart disease," lead study author Hatice Hasturk, said in a news release. "The general public understands the connection between heart health and overall wellness, and often takes appropriate steps to prevent heart disease. More education is needed to elevate oral wellness into the same category in light of proven connections to major health conditions."

Heart disease is responsible for about one in four deaths in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The findings touch on an important prevention technique and a further understanding of of one essential way to fight the issue on our terms.

More information regarding the findings can be seen via the journal Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology.

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