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Written By: Editorial Team | Updated : June 29, 2015 9:19 AM IST
A lot of people waiting outside a dentist's clinic waiting for a treatment have their heart in their mouth. That said, it is quite possible that the bacteria in your mouth can get into your bloodstream and create problems for your heart. Also, if you already have heart disease then it is important that you make it clear to the dentist about your condition and the medicines you are taking for it.
Various studies have been conducted on the possible link between periodontal disease and cardiovascular diseases. And, even though we cannot say that maintaining proper oral hygiene can save us from any form of heart disease, dental problems do indeed have an impact on your overall health.
Heart diseases that affect your oral health
1. Heart attack
A heart attack may sometimes start with pain in your chest which spreads to your lower jaw, or pain in your jaw and shoulder. If you've had a heart attack, wait for at least 6 months before taking any type of dental treatment.
Some heart attack patients are prescribed drugs which thin their blood, or anticoagulants. It makes your blood less likely to clot, and hence it makes you unsuitable for treatment as you may bleed excessively. Make sure you give your dentist contact details of your physician so that they can discuss your condition and make the appropriate decision. (Read: Getting straight to the heart of the attack)
Read more about causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of heart disease.
2. Hypertension or High blood pressure
Certain drugs that treat high blood pressure can lead to an altered sense of taste and dry mouth which may lead to dental problems. They could also cause gum overgrowth which may interfere with oral hygiene and hence your dental health. If you have gum disease or other dental problems, tell your dentist about the fact that you are taking anti-hypertensive drugs so that he/she can discuss with your physician if the drugs can be changed.
Read more about causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of hypertension.
If you are to undergo an extraction or a minor oral surgical procedure, it is necessary that your blood pressure be controlled. Uncontrolled hypertension can lead to excessive bleeding.
The fear of dental treatments can cause the already high BP to shoot up during the procedure. Discuss with your physician and dentist to see if you can take anti-anxiety drugs like valium or be treated with local anaesthesia.
The local anaesthetic used in the case of a patient with hypertension or heart disease is different from that used in a healthy patient. It contains the anaesthetic without epinephrine. Discuss this with your dentist before the treatment.
3. Angina
Angina or 'angina pectoris' is chest pain as a result of inadequate oxygen supply to the heart muscle. Patients can undergo dental treatment normally with some minor changes. However, if you don't need emergency dental care, then it is best if you don't undergo any treatment as stress and anxiety caused by dental treatment can trigger angina attacks. In case you need it, make sure your dentist has spoken to your physician before treating you and has oxygen and nitroglycerin available in case of emergency. (Read: Expert tips to prevent heart disease)
Read more about causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of angina.
4. Congestive Heart Failure
If you've suffered from one, make sure your dental treatment is done in a hospital setting so that emergencies, if any, are attended to quickly. Also, make sure you do not lie down too far back in the dental chair and not sit up or stand too quickly.
5. Pacemaker implantation
If you have a pacemaker installed, make sure that there are no electromagnetic devices in the dentist's clinic while you are being treated. Certain equipments that a dentist uses may interact with your pacemaker and cause complications. Even though the chances of this happening are very small it is better to be safe than sorry.
In short, you should keep these things in mind before consulting a dentist:
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