Reno Cosmetic Dentist Is Tooth Decay Related to Heart Disease?

Tooth decay is a disease of the mouth that will cause serious damage and harm to the teeth. Most often, tooth decay will begin when bacteria from plaque feeds on sugars in the mouth caused by food particles. These sugars in the mouth will be converted into lactic acid, which will start to harm the teeth and cause cavities. This entire process causes serious affects in tooth decay, which many medical professionals have connected to heart disease.

First of all, as bacteria begins to feed on the teeth to cause tooth decay, it will create blood clots in the arteries. If the blood clots are released into the bloodstream, this could cause a fatal heart attack. When plaque forms in the mouth, it can cause chronic inflammation within the gums. This effect causes the blood vessels to inflame in the mouth, so that the plaque will start to affect the arteries. In extreme cases of tooth decay, a person could experience symptoms of a heart attack, like pain in the chest or left arm. If you do have tooth decay, it is very important to have it treated right away so that you do not have symptoms of a heart attack.

Scientists have also discovered that genetics play a role between heart disease and tooth decay. If your gums are firm and pink, this is a sign that they are healthy. A sign of disease in your gums is if they are bleeding, swollen, or red. Some of the most common gum diseases are actually related to heart disease, such as gingivitis. Gingivitis causes a gap between the teeth and gums caused by bacteria. Some of the most common symptoms of gingivitis are bleeding, redness, and swelling in the gums. Another like issue is if the wisdom teeth don't grow completely into the mouth, which will cause a gap. Food particles will start to accumulate in these pockets to decay the teeth, which will cause serious pain. If you do not treat this issue, the neck and cheeks will start to swell. If the disease is very severe, it will cause periodontitis, which will begin to affect the root of the teeth. The end result of this will be receding gums and damage to the bones in the mouth.

Some of the most common symptoms of tooth decay occur slowly, such as having a toothache due to irritation. This may make it difficult for the individual to eat hard foods or sweets, and they can also experience hot and cold sensitivity. Other symptoms of tooth decay is if the tooth hurts when pressure is put on it, or if the individual has bad breath. If you do see yellow, brown, or black spots on your teeth, that is a sure symptom of tooth decay.

If you do have any symptoms of tooth decay, make sure to make an appointment with your dentist right away to be treated. This is the best way to prevent tooth decay, which can often be linked to heart disease, if it is left untreated.