Good oral hygiene isn’t just important for your teeth—it might also protect your heart.
New research from Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU) in Japan has found a connection between gum disease and the heart’s ability to recover after a heart attack.
The study, published in the International Journal of Oral Science, focused on a common mouth bacteria called Porphyromonas gingivalis. This bacteria is known to cause gum disease, but now scientists believe it could also harm the heart, especially after a heart attack.
A heart attack happens when blood flow to the heart muscle is blocked. This cuts off oxygen and nutrients, causing heart muscle cells—called cardiac myocytes—to die. The body tries to protect the heart through a process called autophagy.
Autophagy is a kind of cellular clean-up where damaged parts of cells are broken down and removed to keep the heart working properly.
Earlier studies had found Porphyromonas gingivalis in the areas where heart attacks occurred, but it wasn’t clear how it affected the heart. To find out, researchers changed the bacteria so it no longer produced its strongest toxin, known as gingipain. Then, they used both the normal and modified versions of the bacteria to infect heart muscle cells and mice.
The results were clear: heart cells infected with the gingipain-free bacteria were much healthier than those infected with the normal version. In mice, the effects of a heart attack were also much worse in those infected with the regular bacteria.
The reason? Gingipain appears to block the fusion of autophagosomes and lysosomes—two parts of the cell that work together to clean out damage. When this process is blocked, autophagy doesn’t work properly. As a result, waste builds up in the heart muscle cells, which can lead to cell damage, cell death, and even heart rupture.
This means that an infection with Porphyromonas gingivalis, especially when it produces gingipain, may stop the heart from healing itself after a heart attack. That could make the heart weaker and increase the chances of serious problems.
These findings show that taking care of your gums and teeth might do more than just give you a nice smile—it could also lower your risk of fatal heart problems. Regular brushing, flossing, and dental checkups could be an easy but powerful way to protect your heart.
This study is a strong reminder that the health of one part of your body can affect the rest. Looking after your mouth might be one step toward a healthier heart.
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