May is National Blood Pressure Education Month!

The month of May has been dedicated by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) to increasing education and the overall awareness of high blood pressure throughout the United States. In relation to oral health, headlines have recently been made that there is no direct link between gum disease and heart disease; although this is true, it has not been made clear that this is only referring to a (non-existent) causal relationship between the two– dismissing the fact that there is still a very strong correlation between both of these diseases.

For example, research has shown for years that those with gum disease are typically at a higher risk for developing cardiovascular disease, and those with heart disease frequently also have some level of gum or periodontal disease.[1] Moreover, medications that are often used to treat hypertension can have a negative impact on the oral cavity, leading to a number of other adverse complications. One common side effect is Xerostomia (dry mouth), which can result in anything from gingivitis, to loss of tooth structure, to potentially caries if left untreated for a significant period of time.

In order to combat these two diseases in modern healthcare, it will take the efforts of both the medical and dental professions to continually monitor their connection, and disseminate that knowledge to the public as the first line of prevention.

Want to earn CE? Learn more by taking our course: 
Blood Pressure Issues in the Dental Office

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