Heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death for men and women in the United States. If you are trying to decrease the likelihood of developing heart disease, you should look closely at your gums. According to the dentists at Legacy Dental Arts in Eagle River, Alaska, there is a longtime link between gum disease and heart disease.

Although the link is not entirely clear, experts in dentistry and cardiology say one of the main noticeable tie-ins between a person's oral health and heart health is inflammation. This is a common problem in both diseases, with the hardening of arteries as plaque builds up on the walls and the inflammation of gums as bacteria takes over the mouth.

Some risk factors, such as smoking, poor nutrition, and diabetes, exist for both gum disease and heart disease. However, correlations have been discovered between oral health and heart disease in individuals who did not meet these factors. This has led cardiology and dentistry researchers and other experts to suspect that heart disease can be caused or worsened by bacteria that spreads from the oral cavity to other parts of the body.

A 2014 study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine discovered that preventing gum disease decreases a person's chance of being hospitalized for coronary artery disease. Also, an analysis by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey reported that gum disease plays a major role in diseases that affect the blood vessels and arteries that supply the brain with oxygen. Even though the connection has not been fully made, more studies and research projects like these are released each year.

If you believe your oral health is suffering, contact Legacy Dental Arts today. Schedule your appointment with the dentistry by calling (907) 622-7874. You can also visit their website to learn more about their dental services, such as teeth whitening and root canals.