Dr. Andrei Chernov stated that bleeding gums may cause the atherosclerotic plaque to detach, which may lead to a myocardial infarction or stroke as a result of bacteria entering the bloodstream from the gum pockets.
He says: "It seems unreasonable that toothache or bleeding gums could be linked to cardiac arrest. But in the case of periodontitis, the gums become inflamed and bleed. When a person chews or brushes their teeth, bacteria from deep gum pockets can easily enter the bloodstream through damaged capillaries."
According to the doctor, the immune system responds to the bacteria by releasing inflammatory markers that spread throughout the body, thereby damaging the inner lining of blood vessels and affecting atherosclerotic plaques.
He says: "As a result, the plaques become loose and unstable, their coverings thin, and at some point, the plaque breaks off, forming a blood clot that may block a coronary artery or blood vessel in the brain."
According to him, what makes matters worse is that some bacteria present in the oral cavity can penetrate directly into the plaque layer, increasing inflammation and making it more prone to detachment. Thus, chronic gingivitis becomes a trigger factor, creating conditions in the blood vessels that make disaster only a matter of time.
The expert points out that chronic stomatitis also causes insulin resistance and contributes to the development of diabetes in susceptible individuals. He emphasizes that poor oral hygiene weakens the immune system, causing immune cells to damage the gum tissue itself.
According to him, diabetics and cardiovascular patients need oral hygiene as much as they need insulin or anticoagulants.
