According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, almost half of American adults have high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. Despite the fact that so many people have high blood pressure, it’s estimated that as many as 41% of these people aren’t even aware that they have it, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Although most people know that if left untreated, high blood pressure can lead to a plethora of health issues, including a heart attack and/or stroke, there’s another unexpected side effect: gum disease.
“The relationship between high blood pressure and mouth problems, particularly gum disease, is significant. Studies have shown that individuals with severe periodontitis are twice as likely to have high systolic blood pressure compared to those with healthy gums,” Ashley Boling, DDS, dentist and practice owner at Aspen Dental, exclusively told Health Digest, referencing findings by the American Heart Association. “Additionally, the presence of active gum inflammation is associated with higher blood pressure levels.”
While there are certainly other reasons why someone might have gum disease, if you haven’t had your blood pressure checked in a while, then that’s definitely something you want to do. Considering hypertension is the top risk factor for death not just in the U.S. but globally, per the World Heart Federation, you owe it to yourself and those who love you to know your blood pressure status.
How high blood pressure affects the mouth
When it comes to blood pressure and its impact on oral health, there are two things at play: gum disease and tooth loss. As Dr. Boling explained, periodontal bacteria is to blame for not only damaging the gums but also triggering inflammatory responses in the body that lead to diseases like hypertension. “This connection appears to occur before a patient develops high blood pressure, suggesting that gum disease may be an early indicator of cardiovascular risk,” said Dr. Boling. “Additionally, people with gum disease often exhibit increased levels of glucose, LDL cholesterol, and inflammatory markers, as well as lower levels of HDL cholesterol, all of which are associated with cardiovascular health.”
According to a 2022 study published in Scientific Reports, if gum disease is left untreated and is allowed to progress, it can eventually lead to tooth loss. But that’s not the only link between high blood pressure and losing a tooth or two. For those who are aware of their hypertension and are taking medication for it, tooth decay can still be a concern because the side effects can include dry mouth and/or gum swelling, both of which can contribute to the health of your teeth, per Jamaica Hospital.
Ways to keep your blood pressure in check
If you want to avoid hypertension-related gum disease, tooth decay, or any of the other health conditions that come with high blood pressure, then you need to stay on top of it. First and foremost, if you’ve never had your blood pressure taken or it’s been a long time, then check it. According to the American Heart Association, the normal range is 120/80 or less. Once the systolic number (the one on top) starts climbing past 120 and the diastolic number (the one on the bottom) begins to increase above 80, then your blood pressure is headed in the wrong direction. If the top number is over 130 and the bottom number is over 80, you officially have high blood pressure, and the higher each number, the more dangerous your situation.
Although you can manage your high blood pressure with medication, because its side effects include the aforementioned tooth loss, among other things, the healthiest way to get your hypertension under control is through lifestyle changes. This includes losing extra weight, especially if most of your weight is in your midsection, exercising at least 30 minutes a day, eating a well-rounded diet that contains little-to-no processed foods, laying off the sodium intake, learning to manage stress, and kicking vices like drinking alcohol and smoking to the curb, per the Mayo Clinic. While high blood pressure, similar to high cholesterol, can be genetic, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, developing a healthy lifestyle is paramount in limiting your chances of hypertension — which also means limiting your chances of gum disease and tooth decay.
