Oral Health and Cardiovascular Disorders

Abstract

Several studies reported the cross talk between oral health and cardiovascular disorders. The aim of the present chapter is to review the main mechanisms linking oral and cardiovascular disorders, the main pathologies which could be linked, and possibilities for prophylactic and therapeutic interventions. Periodontitis was associated with cardiovascular risk, and the links between the two entities are represented by bacteria and their toxins released into the blood, causing endothelial dysfunction and providing a proatherogenic and prothrombotic effect and an inflammatory and immune reaction. The mentioned mechanisms explain the reported associations of periodontitis with stroke, coronary heart disease, and peripheral vascular disease. Periodontitis was also associated with diabetes mellitus and impaired lipid metabolism. Not all studies confirmed the association between periodontitis and coronary artery disease or stroke. Tooth loss, the most important consequence of periodontitis, has been also associated with cardiovascular disease. Dental and pulpal caries were also found to be independent risk factors for atherosclerosis, while restorations were inversely related to an atherosclerotic burden. Sucrose is involved in both cariogenesis and atherosclerosis. Fluorides prevent aortic calcifications and enamel demineralization and inhibit bacterial metabolism but are cardiotoxic. Heightening awareness of good dental hygiene can improve cardiovascular health.

Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans induces a proatherosclerotic response in human endothelial cells in a three‐dimensional collagen scaffold model

“…In 2010, the disease was reported in 3.9 million people worldwide and was moderate to severe in 11% of them (Bui et al., 2019). Several epidemiological and meta‐analysis studies have confirmed the associations of periodontal disease with cardiovascular health deterioration, endothelial dysfunction, and atherosclerosis (Mozos & Stoian, 2019; Park et al., 2015). Periodontitis has been strongly related to the development of atheromatous plaque and atherosclerosis progression because of the isolation of periodontal bacteria from atheroma (Konkel et al., 2019; Kozarov et al., 2005).…”

“…In 2010, the disease was reported in 3.9 million people worldwide and was moderate to severe in 11% of them (Bui et al, 2019). Several epidemiological and meta-analysis studies have confirmed the associations of periodontal disease with cardiovascular health deterioration, endothelial dysfunction, and atherosclerosis (Mozos & Stoian, 2019;Park et al, 2015).…”

“…Viable bacteria and bacterial DNA identified in atheroma may explain the activation of monocytes and endothelial cells that increases the likelihood of the progression of atherosclerotic lesions (Mozos & Stoian, 2019). However, little is known about the mechanisms used by periodontal pathogenic bacteria to damage the cardiovascular arterial endothelium.…”

Periodontopathic Microbiota and Atherosclerosis: Roles of TLR-Mediated Inflammation Response

“…Periodontitis and atherosclerosis are both the social-economic burden worldwide and have shared common risk factors ( Figure 1 ), such as age, heredity, smoking, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, estrogen deficiency in women, a low socioeconomic status, and stress [ 10 ]. Large cohort and epidemiology studies have demonstrated that periodontal infection increased the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease [ 11 – 13 ].…”