Are you as surprised as Madam Ngozi, who is shocked reading this title or as disdainful as Madam Yejide saying, “Teeth lasan lasan,” meaning “Ordinary Teeth.” Both women concluded their astonishment by saying: “Don’t mind them! All these health people, they have come again.”
Hmmm,…Really?
Just spare like 5 mins to see if it is worth your time and to know if both women are correct or if we need to beckon on them to learn a thing or two. Shall we?
Call it ‘Teeth Gate, Oral Health or Teeth Condition,’ it has a lot to do with whether or not a person is at risk of stroke or heart attack. You know how, through ‘Teeth Tartar.’ Yes oh, scores of people carry this tooth condition around without knowing the risks involved and it is very interesting and comforting to know that there is a way out. Even if you are not reading this for yourself, no knowledge is lost. You will do well to share a copy of this publication with your family and friends, so they get to read for themselves and learn how this could happen as well as see some simple things they can do at home to prevent it – not without being told how a dentist can really be of help. Let’s see how much of this we can cover in this edition.
Describing Teeth Tartar:
Also known as dental calculus, teeth tartar is hardened plaque that forms on teeth when soft plaque isn’t removed. It appears as yellow/brown deposits, often near gums.
– Formation: Plaque hardens into tartar within 24–72 hours if not brushed/flossed away.
– Composition: Minerals from saliva and bacteria-laden plaque combine to create a porous, rough surface.
While tartar itself isn’t the direct cause, its role in gum disease and systemic inflammation creates a pathway for stroke and cardiovascular risk.
Here is how it contributes to stroke risk through multiple mechanisms:
1. Chronic Inflammation
Tartar (hardened dental plaque) harbors bacteria that cause gum inflammation (gingivitis/periodontitis). This local inflammation can trigger systemic inflammation, promoting atherosclerosis (hardened arteries) and increasing stroke and heart attack risks.
2. Bacterial Spread
Bacteria from tartar can enter the bloodstream through bleeding gums, potentially reaching the brain. Research shows oral bacteria are found in 84% of stroke patients’ brains, possibly contributing to clot formation or arterial damage. Also, studies link high tartar levels to 2 to 3 times higher risk of cardiac death.
3. Gum Disease Link
Tartar buildup directly causes periodontal disease, which studies associate with higher stroke risk. Severe gum inflammation may worsen blood vessel health and clot formation.
4. Tooth Loss Correlation
Tartar-related gum disease often leads to tooth loss, which multiple studies link to increased stroke incidence.
5. Confounding Factors
While associations exist, smoking and shared risk factors (e.g. poor healthcare access) may partly explain the link.
However, bacteria from gum disease have been found in arterial plaques, suggesting a direct biological role.
Gum Disease Bacteria that affects Cardiovascular Health
Now, what are these pathogens called? Let’s learn about them:
– Porphyromonas gingivalis: The most studied periodontal pathogen. It accelerates atherosclerosis in animal models, invades heart tissue post-heart attack, and worsens cardiac damage by increasing inflammation (HMGB-1) and promoting cell death. Higher oral levels correlate with severe heart damage in humans.
– Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans Linked to endothelial cell invasion and cross-reactive antibodies targeting cardiovascular tissues.
– Treponema denticola, Tannerella forsythia, Fusobacterium nucleatum: Part of polymicrobial infections shown in animal studies to trigger aortic inflammation and oxidative stress.
Mechanisms
– Direct Invasion: P. gingivalis enters blood vessels and heart tissue, worsening atherosclerosis and post-heart attack recovery.
– Immune Cross-Reactivity: Antibodies against gum bacteria (e.g., HSPs) may attack similar proteins in blood vessels, driving inflammation.
– Inflammatory Cascade: These bacteria release toxins (e.g., LPS) and cytokines that promote arterial plaque formation and clot risk.
Evidence
– Animal Models: P. gingivalis alone or in polymicrobial mixes accelerates aortic plaque formation.
– Human Studies: Higher P. gingivalis levels in the mouth correlate with heart attack severity and coronary artery damage. Serum antibodies against periodontal pathogens associated with cardiovascular events in some populations.
Yes, it’s good to start cleaning teeth and gum properly & commencing treatment where necessary, especially if you have not been doing so before, but no doubt some pathogens may have escaped into the body already. Now, there is ongoing research aimed at clarifying if treating gum disease directly reduces existing heart risks.
Come oh! This is no joke at all. Let’s call Madam Ngo and Madam Yejide to read this and to also look out for the next edition, so that all those concerned can see how to reduce the volume of this song/anthem or to stop it altogether before it sings. It’s a very important matter. See you next month!
English