May 11 - The American Association of Public Health Dentistry (AAPHD) agrees with the
conclusions of the literature review the American Heart Association
published online in the journal Circulation on April 18, 2012. The authors
found strong proof for a link between gum disease and heart disease. People
with gum disease have a greater chance of having heart disease than people
with healthy gums. The link between gum disease and heart disease exists
separately from other reasons (“risk factors”) like cigarette smoking,
diabetes, or obesity. This study confirms earlier reports.
More studies are needed to show if gum disease directly causes heart attacks
and strokes. Studies now show that treating gum disease can lessen the level
of some factors in the blood that help cause heart disease. Prevention and
treatment of gum disease helps to keep the mouth healthy.
“Based on today’s research findings,” AAPHD President Dr. Nicholas Mosca
says,” AAPHD supports preventing and treating gum disease to better oral
health for everybody, including people with heart disease. Having a healthy
mouth is part of having a healthy body.”
AAPHD is the nation’s largest organization dedicated to the vision of optimal oral health for
all. Its members are dentists, dental hygienists, and other individuals committed to improving
the oral health of the public. Founded in 1937, the AAPHD provides a focus for meeting the
challenge to improve oral health. Public health dentistry is one of the nine Dental Specialties
recognized by the American Dental Association.