{"id":1204,"date":"2023-02-16T15:09:00","date_gmt":"2023-02-16T15:09:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lehighvalleydentalhealth.com\/blog\/?p=1204"},"modified":"2023-03-22T03:09:21","modified_gmt":"2023-03-22T03:09:21","slug":"does-gum-disease-raise-blood-pressure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lehighvalleydentalhealth.com\/blog\/does-gum-disease-raise-blood-pressure\/","title":{"rendered":"Will Your Gum Disease Cause High Blood Pressure?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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For most people, gum disease<\/a> is a bad enough problem on its own. The condition, after all, makes gums red, swollen, and tender, and it causes bad breath. However, did you know this infection can also trigger high blood pressure? Indeed, it\u2019ll put your ticker at risk if left unchecked. To learn more about the matter, let your Coplay dentist explain. Here, then, is how gums and blood pressure relate, as well as some oral care tips that\u2019ll help out both.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Some Context: What\u2019s High Blood Pressure?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Remember, your heart pumps blood throughout your body using its arteries. As such, high blood pressure occurs when blood pushes on artery walls at a very high rate. Typical causes for it are usually poor nutrition and lack of exercise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Without treatment, high blood pressure can lead to serious health issues. In particular, it raises your risk of heart failure, stroke, kidney disease, and more. It\u2019s thus considered a \u201csilent killer\u201d due to being subtle and a sign of life-threatening problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Does it Relate to Gum Disease?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Recent research shows gum disease and high blood pressure are strongly linked. In fact, evidence suggests that the former tends to cause the latter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You see, bacterial infections in your mouth don\u2019t always stay put. They can often travel through the bloodstream and infect other body parts. One such part is the heart, meaning harmful microbes can inflame valves and vessels. Should that happen, you could develop elevated blood pressure and other disorders linked to heart disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Can I Keep My Gums Healthy?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Of course, the right oral care tips can prevent gum disease and high blood pressure. That said, here are some steps you can take for better gum health:<\/p>\n\n\n\n