Understanding Gum Disease: How Does Gum Disease Affect My Heart?

Quick summary (TL;DR)

• Strong and growing evidence shows people with moderate–severe periodontitis have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) such as heart attacks and stroke. PubMed – Periodontitis and Cardiovascular Diseases
• Biological mechanisms likely link mouth and heart through oral bacteria and chronic inflammation that can affect blood vessels.Periodontitis and cardiovascular diseases Scientific consensus report
• Recent clinical trials find that intensive periodontal treatment can improve blood-vessel function and slow arterial thickening — suggesting gum treatment may help lower CVD risk factors. PubMed – Periodontitis treatment and progression of carotid intima-media thickness: a randomized trial
• Good oral hygiene, stopping smoking, managing diabetes and regular dental care are practical ways to reduce both periodontal and heart disease risk. Australian Dental Association resources support integrating oral care into general health.Australian Dental Association – Cardiovascular health

Why dentists and cardiologists are talking about gum disease

Periodontitis (advanced gum disease) is a chronic infection of the gums and supporting tissues of the teeth. Over decades researchers have observed that people with worse periodontal disease are more likely to experience cardiovascular events (coronary heart disease, heart attack, stroke) than people with healthy gums. Large epidemiological studies and systematic reviews consistently report a modest but meaningful increase in CVD risk among people with periodontitis. That evidence has led major expert groups to investigate the connection and issue clinical consensus statements. SpringerLink Research – Periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease: umbrella review

The important point is this: the association is well established, and the biological mechanisms are plausible — but the question of causation (does gum disease cause heart disease directly?) is complex. Recent interventional trials are starting to show that treating gum disease can positively affect blood-vessel health, which strengthens the case that oral health matters for the heart. Periodontitis and cardiovascular diseases Scientific consensus report

How might gum disease affect the heart? (the biology, explained simply)

Scientists propose two main, complementary pathways by which periodontitis could influence heart health:

• Bacteria and bacterial products entering the bloodstream — The mouth contains bacteria that live in dental plaque. In periodontitis these bacteria and their toxins can enter circulation during chewing, brushing or when gums bleed. Once in the bloodstream they may attach to fatty plaques in arteries or stimulate immune reactions that promote artery damage. Periodontitis and cardiovascular diseases Scientific consensus report
• Chronic systemic inflammation — Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory condition. Persistent inflammation raises blood levels of markers such as C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukins and other mediators that contribute to atherosclerosis (the build-up of fatty plaques in arteries). Systemic inflammation is a known driver of cardiovascular disease. Treating the source of inflammation in the mouth can reduce these markers in some studies. MDPI – Association of Periodontitis with Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Diseases:

Together these pathways create biological plausibility — meaning it’s reasonable that oral disease could contribute to the process that leads to heart attacks and strokes. However, cardiovascular disease has many established risk factors (age, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, diabetes, family history) and oral health is one piece of the broader prevention puzzle. AHA Journals

What the major dental and health organisations say

Expert groups specialising in periodontology and cardiovascular health have reviewed the evidence and reached balanced conclusions:

• The European Federation of Periodontology (EFP) together with cardiovascular experts concluded there is consistent epidemiological evidence linking periodontitis and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, and they described biologically plausible mechanisms. They encouraged collaboration between dental and medical professionals and further intervention research. European Federation of Periodontology – Scientific consensus report
  
• The Australian Dental Association (ADA Australia) recognises mouth–body links and provides resources for clinicians and patients emphasising that good oral health is part of overall health. Australian clinician guidance encourages screening, collaborative care for patients with systemic diseases (like diabetes and heart disease), and prompt treatment of periodontal infections. Australian Dental Association – Cardiovascular health

These organisations stress that while the evidence indicates a link, treating traditional cardiovascular risk factors remains essential — oral care adds value but doesn’t replace established heart disease prevention (e.g., blood pressure control, cholesterol management, smoking cessation). Wiley Online Library – Periodontitis and cardiovascular diseases: Consensus report

What the research shows: association → intervention → outcomes

Association: the epidemiology

Systematic reviews and umbrella reviews pooling many studies generally find that people with periodontitis have an increased risk of cardiovascular events (meta-analytic effect sizes commonly report roughly a 20% higher relative risk after adjusting for confounders in many studies). While some studies vary, the overall pattern supports a positive association. SpringerLink Research – Periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease: umbrella review

Intervention: does treating gum disease help the heart?

This is the critical question for patients. Observational links alone don’t prove treatment of the gums will lower heart attacks — we need intervention trials. Encouragingly, randomized clinical trials and intervention studies have shown that periodontal treatment can:

• Improve endothelial function — a measure of how well blood vessels dilate, which is an early indicator of cardiovascular health.
• Reduce systemic inflammatory markers (like CRP).
• Most recently, a multicentre randomized trial published in the European Heart Journal found that intensive periodontal therapy slowed the progression of carotid artery thickening over two years — a measurable change that suggests reduced atherosclerotic risk. These findings are not definitive proof that gum treatment prevents heart attacks, but they provide the strongest interventional evidence to date that periodontal therapy can positively influence vascular health. PubMed – Periodontitis treatment and progression of carotid intima-media thickness: a randomized trial

Research caveats

• Effect sizes observed in many studies are modest.
• Observational studies can be affected by shared risk factors (for example, smokers are more likely to have both gum disease and heart disease). Modern studies adjust for these factors, but no single study is perfect.
• More large, long-term trials are still needed to show whether periodontal therapy reduces major cardiovascular events (heart attack, stroke) directly. Expert panels therefore encourage integration of oral health into cardiovascular risk management while further research continues. PubMed – Periodontitis and Cardiovascular Diseases

Practical advice — what you can do today to protect your gums and your heart

Even while research progresses, the clinical message is practical and actionable: looking after your mouth helps your whole-body health. Here’s a simple plan.

• Brush twice daily and clean between teeth daily. Use fluoride toothpaste and an interdental cleaner (floss or interdental brushes) — plaque removal is the foundation of prevention.
• See your dentist regularly. Regular exams and professional cleaning remove hardened tartar that you can’t remove at home and let your clinician spot early signs of periodontitis.
• If you have bleeding gums, don’t ignore them. Bleeding is an early sign of inflammation — earlier treatment prevents progression.
• Quit smoking. Smoking greatly increases the risk of periodontitis and worsens cardiovascular risk — quitting benefits both heart and oral health.
• Manage chronic health problems (especially diabetes). People with diabetes are at higher risk of periodontitis and vice versa. Work with your GP and dental team for coordinated care.
• If diagnosed with periodontitis, follow your dentist’s treatment and maintenance plan. Evidence shows periodontal therapy reduces inflammation and improves vascular markers — regular maintenance afterwards reduces recurrence.

How My Local Dentists can help

At My Local Dentists we take mouth–body health seriously. Our team will:

• Carry out a full periodontal assessment (pocket charting and X-rays) if you report bleeding gums, bad breath, receding gums or loose teeth.
• Create a personalised plan: from non-surgical care (scaling & root planing, oral hygiene coaching) through referral for specialist periodontal care if needed.
• Coordinate with your GP or cardiologist when patients have complex medical backgrounds (diabetes, past heart disease), because collaborative care produces better outcomes.
• Offer smoking-cessation support and liaise with local services to support your heart and oral health goals.

If you’re worried about your gums or you have heart disease or major CVD risk factors — tell us at your appointment and we’ll arrange a safe, medically informed treatment plan.

Common patient questions

Q: Will fixing my gums stop me getting a heart attack?
A: We can’t promise periodontal treatment will completely prevent heart attacks — CVD is multi-factorial. But treating periodontitis reduces inflammation and improves vascular function, which are known contributors to heart disease risk. It’s a meaningful step alongside managing blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, weight and quitting smoking.  

Q: If my dentist treats my periodontitis, how long until my heart risk improves?
A: Some vascular and inflammatory improvements can be seen within weeks to months; structural changes (like slower artery thickening) have been seen in trials over one to two years. Individual results vary based on overall health and risk factors.  

Q: Should I tell my cardiologist about my gum disease?
A: Yes — sharing information about your periodontal health helps your medical team make holistic decisions. Many clinicians welcome collaborative care.  

References and further reading 

• Sanz M, et al. Periodontitis and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease: Consensus report of the Joint EFP/AAP Workshop on Periodontitis and Systemic Diseases. (EFP consensus). efp.org
• Orlandi M., D’Aiuto F., et al. Periodontitis treatment and progression of carotid intima-media thickness: a randomized trial. Eur Heart J. 2025. (Intensive periodontal therapy improved vascular markers and slowed carotid thickening). PubMed
• Arbildo-Vega H.I., et al. Umbrella review: periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease. BMC Oral Health (2024) — summary of systematic reviews supporting the association. SpringerLink 
• Australian Dental Association — resources on mouth–body connections and cardiovascular health. Teeth 
• Mendoza-Mendoza F., et al. Inflammatory mechanisms linking periodontal disease and CVD — mechanistic review. MDPI 

Bottom line

Healthy gums = a healthy heart! 

Taking care of your teeth and gums is about more than just a nice smile — it’s also important for your heart. Research shows that gum disease is linked to a higher risk of heart problems, and treating your gums can actually help improve your blood vessels. While scientists are still studying whether fixing gum disease directly prevents heart attacks, there’s plenty of evidence to show that keeping your gums healthy gives your heart a helping hand. So don’t wait — book a check-up with your dentist and protect both your smile and your heart today!

Don’t wait until it’s too late — book a check-up with My Local Dentists today and protect both your teeth and your heart!