Gum Disease and Blood Clots

It’s no surprise that, as a practice focusing on gum and tooth health, we’re always following the latest studies which continue to stress the importance of oral health and how it can affect the rest of your body.

This post’s topic covers gum disease and a recently reported link to thrombotic diseases.

In “Periodontitis Impacts on Thrombotic Diseases,” researchers discuss the “high prevalence of periodontitis and the potential systemic harm it poses,” which, they conclude, “make the management of oral health in people and patients at risk for cardiovascular disease extremely important.” They report that “periodontitis induces systemic inflammation and promotes thrombosis through bacterial transmission and the release of pro-inflammatory factors into the circulation.”

What is Periodontitis?

Periodontal disease is a general term to describe inflammation of the important bone and gum tissue that supports your teeth. If you have periodontitis, the most severe form of gum disease, this oral bacterial infection may already have caused “pockets” to form between your teeth and gums, with bacteria at work destroying gum and bone tissue.

This severe gum disease can’t be cured but can be successfully controlled by your periodontal practice with appropriate treatment. Without treatment, periodontitis can worsen and erode the bone tissue that supports your teeth, ultimately leading to tooth loss. Studies show that individuals with periodontitis have a higher risk of developing numerous seemingly un-related systemic disorders beyond thrombosis including heart disease, dementia, stroke, some cancers, erectile dysfunction and more.

What is Thrombosis?

The Cleveland Clinic defines thrombosis as “a serious condition where one or more blood clots form in your blood vessels or heart.”  While smaller clots can sometimes dissolve on their own, bigger clots can block normal blood flow or break loose and travel elsewhere in your body, resulting in life-threatening situations like heart attack and stroke. Blood clots can form almost anywhere in the body.

Take Charge of Your Health

Looking to improve your gum and tooth health and help thwart further damage to your body? Make an appointment with one of our six specialists for early 2025 for a diagnosis and a personalized treatment plan to promote better oral -and overall-health!