According to research recently published in the Journal of Hypertension, 1 in 3 adults in the United States has high blood pressure. This simple fact increases their risk of heart attack and stroke. But did you know that high blood pressure, and the struggle to bring it under control, may lie in a surprising place? Your oral health is directly related to your overall health, and in particular, your heart health.
Gum Disease Linked to Hypertension
Beverly Hills men and women who have bleeding, receding, or sore gums, or even tooth decay, often struggle with high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. This recent study from the Journal of Hypertension directly related patients with declining oral health to increased, uncontrolled hypertension. When compared to men and women who have healthy teeth and gums, those with inflamed gums were 20% less likely to have gotten their blood pressure within a healthy range. More so, patients with poor dental health had systolic blood pressure readings (pressure measured in the vessels when the heart beats) that were an average of 3 mm HG higher than similar men and women with good oral health.
With more than 75 million Americans struggling to keep their blood pressure in check, only 54% of them have successfully brought their blood pressure readings within a normal range with the help of medication, diet, and exercise. Although numerous studies have demonstrated the link between gum disease and hypertension, this new study is groundbreaking in detailing how poor dental health directly affects efforts to bring hypertension under control. As a specialist in treating gum disease, Dr. Anson believes that these facts and these numbers are unacceptable. He wants to help patients in Beverly Hills improve their overall health.
More than 11,000 Americans participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2009 to 2014. Each of them was screened for periodontal disease. Of them, 4,095 had previously been diagnosed with hypertension, and 88.5% of those were taking medication to address their hypertension, and 11.5% were not taking hypertension medication.
Dr. Anson Can Help
Dr. Anson is highly experienced in the field of periodontics and dental implants, and he understands the correlation between the state of his patients’ oral health and their overall health. If you’ve been struggling to get your blood pressure under control and haven’t had any success, your gum health should be taken into account when considering treatment options.
Call Dr. Anson in his Beverly Hills office today at (310) 657-0999 to schedule your initial consultation and comprehensive evaluation by Dr. Anson.
