Gum Disease Bacteria Linked to Heart Risks
Bacteria that cause gum disease might contribute to a hardening of the heart valves, according to a new study examining the link between oral health and cardiovascular conditions.
Periodontitis is a severe form of gum disease that damages the tissues and bone supporting the teeth. The World Health Organization estimates that about 1 billion people globally live with a severe periodontal disease, an umbrella term for inflammatory conditions affecting the teeth and gums.
When a person has periodontitis, bacteria that enter the gums can spread into the bloodstream, traveling to other parts of the body. Past research has linked this condition to rheumatoid arthritis, pneumonia, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and cardiovascular disease.
A recent study investigated a specific connection between periodontitis and calcific aortic valve stenosis (CAVS). This condition affects approximately 2% to 7% of people over age 65, making it the most common valvular heart disease in older adults. Currently, no medications are proven to prevent or slow its progression, and valve replacement is often the only effective treatment once severe stenosis develops.
Researchers, including Chenyang Li, MD, a PhD candidate at the National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases in China, looked for a potential link between the two conditions. They focused on Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis), a major bacteria responsible for gum disease.
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“P. gingivalis can enter the bloodstream during routine activities such as brushing or chewing in people with poor oral health,” Li explained. “Previous studies detected P. gingivalis DNA in calcified human aortic valves, but whether this bacterium directly contributes to valve calcification remained unclear.”
Using human heart tissue and a mouse model, the team found that repeated exposure to live P. gingivalis led to bacterial accumulation in the aortic valves and increased valve calcification and symptoms of aortic stenosis. Interestingly, the bacteria prevented the effects from being reduced when antibiotics were administered.
Implications for future research
“Our findings suggest that repeated systemic exposure to P. gingivalis may actively contribute to the development of CAVS rather than simply being an incidental finding,” Li said.
The study also noted that preventive antibiotic treatment reduced bacterial accumulation in the aortic valves and attenuated valve calcification, supporting the idea that infection-related inflammation may drive disease progression. However, researchers emphasized that these findings were conducted in animal models and should not yet be interpreted as evidence that antibiotics can prevent CAVS in humans.
“Our next step is to validate these findings in larger clinical cohorts,” Li added. The team also plans to explore whether interventions targeting infection-related inflammatory pathways, particularly IL-1β signaling, may represent a promising strategy for preventing or slowing the progression of calcific aortic valve disease.
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Experts who were not involved in the study echoed the significance of these results. Yu-Ming Ni, MD, a cardiologist at MemorialCare Heart and Vascular Institute, noted that while the connection between gum disease and atherosclerosis is well known, the link to valve disease is less understood.
“Compared to conditions like heart attack and stroke, we still have far less guidance on how to prevent valve disease,” Ni said.
The American Academy of Periodontology recommends several steps to prevent gum disease. Dr. Ana Becil Giglio, the academy’s president, suggested brushing teeth, gums, and tongue after meals or at least twice daily to remove debris and bacteria. She also recommended cleaning between teeth daily with floss or interdental aids, using antibacterial mouthwash, and getting an annual full periodontal evaluation from a specialist.
“While these findings are preliminary and do not prove cause and effect in humans, they reinforce an important message: periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects more than the mouth,” Giglio said.
