Preventative Treatment of Heart Problems Through Improving Oral Health San Ramon, CA
Complete health dentists help patients improve their oral health to prevent certain heart problems. This holistic approach to dentistry focuses on the connection between oral and overall health. Patients with heart problems can benefit from complete health dentistry to manage their oral health and protect their overall well-being.
Do not hesitate to improve your oral health and prevent heart problems. Our team at Aaria Dental can help. Call us today at (925) 967-2444 to learn more about our services or schedule an appointment.
Blood Pressure Screening During a Wellness Visit
Patients can have a blood pressure screening during a wellness visit with a complete health dentist. These routine dental appointments offer patients the ability to check their blood pressure about every six months. This screening establishes the patient's baseline blood pressure and alerts our team of other issues, such as hypertension or high anxiety.
Taking a patient's blood pressure is a crucial part of understanding their overall health. It is a crucial part of complete health dentistry, which focuses on the connection between oral and overall health. This important health check also offers the opportunity to understand overall health changes since many people see their dentist more often than their physician.
“This screening establishes the patient’s baseline blood pressure and alerts our team of other issues, such as hypertension or high anxiety.”
How Heart Health Can Affect Oral Health
Since oral health and heart health are connected, it should come as no surprise that patients with heart disease may need specific adjustments to their dental care. Patients who have had a heart attack, stroke, heart failure, high blood pressure, or even chest pain (also known as angina) should consult their cardiologists before undergoing any dental treatments. Once approved to go to the dentist, patients should tell their dentists about any medications they are taking and ask about what measures the team may take in case of a medical emergency.
Total oral health doctors should be prepared to make any of these adjustments as necessary. While traditional dentists tend to treat isolated conditions, total oral health doctors take a more look at patients in their entirety. This means taking a more involved look at medical histories and pre-existing health conditions while also keeping an eye out for potential comorbidities.
Tell Your Dentist About Heart Problems
Patients should always tell our team about any health concerns, especially if they have a heart problem. Communicating these conditions is a vital part of protecting health. Dental treatment can have a great impact on the heart. For example, routine dental cleanings can cause bleeding in the mouth, allowing bacteria to enter the bloodstream and possibly reach the heart. This issue can be potentially dangerous for patients with heart issues, such as inflamed heart valves or tissues.
People with heart problems should always consult their doctor before seeking dental treatment. They should also let us know about any medications that they are taking for their heart problems. Knowing a patient's health status is a necessary precaution that will help us provide safe and effective dental treatment.
“Patients should always tell our team about any health concerns, especially if they have a heart problem.”
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What Oral Health Can Say About Heart Health
Although research on the relationship between heart health and oral health is continuing, that the two are correlated in some way. For instance, studies show that periodontitis is associated with an increased risk of heart disease. Patients with poor dental health are also at higher risk for developing a bacterial infection in the bloodstream, which can affect the heart valves. Additionally, there is a relationship between tooth loss patterns and coronary artery disease.
To elaborate, though there is still not enough evidence to determine a causal relationship between the two, studies show that patients with periodontitis have a two to three times higher risk of having a heart attack, stroke, or another serious cardiovascular event. Furthermore, the mouth acts as an entryway for bacteria to the body. As such, proper oral hygiene is necessary to keep infection at bay. Finally, at least one study found that middle-aged adults who lost at least two teeth had a 23% higher risk of cardiovascular disease than those who did not.
Questions Answered on This Page
Q. What does a total oral health doctor do differently from a typical dentist?
Q. Why should patients have a blood pressure screening during a wellness visit?
Q. Why should patients tell their dentist about their heart problems?
People Also Ask
Q. How does poor oral health affect the heart?
Q. What treatment options offered help defer complications?
Q. What are the risks of abnormal blood pressure?
Q. Why is preventative care important?
Q. What family members may need extra help with their oral hygiene?
What Heart Health and Oral Health Have in Common
Heart health is not only affected by the oral-systemic link. Several different systemic conditions may also affect (and be affected by) a patient's heart health. Some of these conditions are also correlated with oral health. These involve diabetes, malnutrition, and obesity. If severe enough, such conditions may cause arrhythmias, affect the heart's structure, or promote cardiovascular disease or coronary heart disease. All are likely to increase demands on the heart.
Unmanaged diabetes can harm the eyes, nerves, kidneys, heart, teeth, and more. Those with diabetes have an increased risk of periodontitis (also known as gum disease), a condition with well-established links to heart disease. Furthermore, studies show that periodontitis increases the risk of heart disease and can exacerbate existing heart conditions. Malnutrition and obesity can similarly aggravate periodontitis, leading to a domino effect.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How is proper oral hygiene critical for heart health?
A. Caring for oral health is a crucial part of maintaining heart health. People should brush their teeth twice each day, floss every day, and have regular dental check-ups. These preventative actions can help people maintain good oral health and positively impact blood pressure and lower the risk of heart problems.
Q. What is normal blood pressure?
A. Blood pressure is the force of the blood pushing against the artery walls. It is measured using the systolic blood pressure when the heart beats, and diastolic blood pressure when the heart is resting. A normal blood pressure reading is lower than 120/80 mmHg.
Q. How often should I have a wellness visit?
A. Typically, people should have a wellness visit about once to twice a year. The optimal appointment frequency will vary for each person. People with more dental issues may have to schedule visits more frequently to maintain their oral health.
Q. What is the difference between a complete health dentist and a regular dentist?
A. Complete health dentists focus on the connection between oral and overall health. We look at the patient's entire body when treating dental problems. This approach differs from regular dentists who only focus on dental health and treating and diagnosing issues related to the teeth, gums, jaws, and areas of the neck and head.
Q. What is high blood pressure?
A. High blood pressure is when the force of the blood flowing through blood vessels is too high. Various factors can contribute to high blood pressure, but one of them is poor oral health. Plaque and harmful bacteria can build up and lead to gum disease which has a connection to raised blood pressure.
Dental Terminology
Call Us Today
A total oral health dentistry doctor can help you maintain both your oral and heart health. We at Aaria Dental may be able to help. Call us today at 925-967-2444 to schedule an appointment or to learn more about our services.
Helpful Related Links
- American Dental Association (ADA). Glossary of Dental Clinical Terms. 2025
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