Swollen Gums, Periodontal Disease Affecting The Healthy Heart

If you have periodontal disease, it is indeed possible that you may be at greater risk for cardiovascular disease. Leaving periodontal disease untreated for over a long period of time can make the bacterial infection travel and affect the heart. Periodontal disease is a bacterial infection of the gums with a mounting evidences that suggest periodontal disease sufferers have nearly twice the risk of having a fatal heart attack in comparison to patients without periodontal disease. There is a possibility that periodontal bacteria may enter the blood through the swollen gums and cause small blood clots that may contribute to the clogging of arteries. The inflammation of the gums caused by periodontal disease may also promote fatty deposits to build up inside the heart arteries.