Periodontal disease is a risk factor for heart disease. Periodontal pathogens found in periodontitis have been found in the endothelial lining of patients with heart disease in carotid artery surgery. It was also found that DNA from periodontal pathogens have been found in cardiac tissue.
During inflammatory process,Patients predisposed to produce inflammatory mediators such as C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor and interleukins when the body is challenged in some way. Sometimes a patient genetically predisposed to a certain inflammatory reaction. For example in periodontal disease one may respond with high levels of C-reactive protein, which are the same inflammatory mediators seen in cardiovascular disease.
In conclusion , up to this date we can say that periodontal disease is a risk factor for heart disease but not necessarily a causing factor to this illness. More researches have to be done.
