Stroke and Dental Health: 5 Helpful Tips to Reduce Risk

Suppose you have been diagnosed with heart failure or someone close to you lives with this disease, it is vital that you know that it is a chronic disease that has no cure, for this reason, you must inform your treating dentist, and the professional will need the information you can provide about the disease registered in the clinic. It is important to understand what a stroke is and how it occurs before examining the connection between stroke and dental health. The blood arteries that carry blood to the brain become blocked (ischemic stroke) or bleed (hemorrhagic stroke), respectively.

Ischemic stroke, which is more common than hemorrhagic stroke, causes about 87% of all stroke cases. The main risk factors for stroke are high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, high cholesterol, and obesity. The risk of stroke may also be increased by additional factors like age, family history, and race or ethnicity.

The link between stroke and dental health

There may be a connection between oral health and stroke, according to studies. An ischemic stroke risk was found to be greater in patients with periodontitis (gum disease) in a 2018 study. Over 160,000 people took part in the trial, and those with gum disease had a 29% higher risk of having an ischemic stroke than those without it.

A different 2019 study found that people with poor oral hygiene had greater prevalences of a particular form of bacteria in their mouths that is linked to a higher risk of stroke. Over 1000 people participated in the study, and it was discovered that individuals with poor oral hygiene were more likely to carry the germs than those with good dental hygiene.

According to one theory, microorganisms from gum disease and poor oral hygiene habits might reach the bloodstream and lead to artery inflammation. Blood clots may form as a result of this inflammation, obstructing blood flow to the brain and leading to a stroke.

What you can do to reduce your risk?

While the link between stroke and dental health is still being studied, individuals can take specific steps to reduce their risk of stroke. Here are some tips:

1. Practice good oral hygiene: Brush your teeth twice a day, floss daily, and visit your dentist regularly for check-ups and cleanings.

2. Quit smoking: Smoking is a significant risk factor for stroke and can also contribute to gum disease and poor oral hygiene.

3. Maintain a healthy weight: Being overweight or obese can increase your risk of stroke.

4. Exercise regularly: Regular physical activity can help lower your blood pressure and reduce your risk of stroke.

5. Manage your blood pressure and cholesterol: High blood pressure and cholesterol levels can increase your risk of stroke, so it’s essential to monitor and manage them.

What should be considered?

To understand the importance of informing the dentist of heart disease before treatment, we will describe arterial hypertension, hyper which means (over, over, increase) tension which means (pressure, blood, or arterial) defined as an increase in blood pressure. When the patient comes to the dental office with high blood pressure, requesting treatment and this care requires the use of an anesthetic with a vasoconstrictor for treatment, after administration it can be complicated with a greater increase in blood pressure, leading to complications, and increase the risk of suffering a heart problem with cerebrovascular infarction among other problems. That is the importance of immediate communication before dental treatment.

When the treating dentist receives information about a patient suffering from heart disease, she/he will immediately begin a preventive care protocol.

Heart disease causes alterations not only at the systemic level but also at the oral level, which must be recognized in time to be able to use adequate dental management. Being the first cause of mortality in the world, it is crucial to know the risk during dental care. It should also be considered that a large part of the medication used by patients with heart disease has side effects that complicate and trigger an oral disease or pathology.

In any procedure involving bleeding, the dentist will recommend the patient take antibiotic prophylaxis, that is, to take an antibiotic as a preventive action.

The dentist knows that a dental procedure always generates a certain degree of stress in patients, linked to the treatment, so it will reduce care times in a cardiac patient.

All dental procedures for which antibiotic prophylaxis is recommended in patients with heart conditions are Dental Extraction, periodontal procedures that include surgery, scaling and root planing, probing, maintenance visits, dental implant placement, and reimplantation of avulsed teeth, endodontic or apical surgery, subgingival placement, orthodontic band placement, prophylactic dental cleaning, and biopsy.

Faced with all those mentioned above, the dentist must know about the heart condition, to recommend the necessary preventive measures; you should not feel ashamed to ask, it is important to be clear when we talk about health; it is essential to create a good relationship between the dentist and the patient so that you can come to your consultation without fear and with confidence.

Conclusion

Even though the relationship between stroke and oral health is still being researched, there may be a connection. Stroke risk can be decreased by maintaining good dental health, which includes using basic oral hygiene practices and seeing your dentist frequently. You can also reduce your risk by controlling other risk factors like high blood pressure, smoking, and obesity. You can improve your general health and wellness by adopting proactive measures to lower your risk of stroke.

Contact us

If you have any questions about stroke and dental health or other topics, you can contact us at Channel Islands Family Dental as well as our page on Facebook. We look forward to your visit and we will make a timely diagnosis. Our dentists in Oxnard, Santa Paula, Ventura , Newbury Park, and Port Hueneme will be able to guide you toward the best treatment to take care of your health and give you back your best smile.