Plaque linked to heart disease
January 25, 2010 by admin · 4 Comments
Filed under: Dental Health, Health Related, Periodontal disease
Filed under: Dental Health, Health Related, Periodontal disease
A new article has linked subgingival bacteria (the main component of plaque) to heart disease. Cardiovascular diseases (CVD’s) are still the most common cause of death in industrialized countries. Known risk factors for CVD’s include smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and male gender. However, accumulating evidence points to a bacterial or viral cause, with the bacteria in plaque becoming prime suspects.
Excellent home care is always an excellent course of action, but having your dentist screen for plaque buildup and periodontal disease is vital. In the future, there may be further screening tests to determine which type of plaque you may have and how likely you are to be susceptible to heart disease.