You probably know that brushing and flossing matter for your teeth. Most of us think of sore or bleeding gums as a dental issue and nothing more. '
But what happens around your gums may quietly affect the rest of your body.
A new scientific statement from the American Heart Association links gum disease to plaque buildup in the arteries and a higher risk of major cardiovascular events. It was published on December 16, 2025 in the journal Circulation.
The statement updates the association's 2012 position. Researchers reviewed studies tying gum disease to heart attack, stroke, atrial fibrillation, heart failure, peripheral artery disease and cardiac death.
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How common gum disease really is
Gum disease is far more widespread than most people assume. According to the CDC, about 42 percent of US adults aged 30 and older have periodontitis, the more serious form of gum disease. Around 8 percent have a severe form.
The early signs are easy to miss. Gums may bleed when you brush, look red or puffy, or pull back from the teeth. In more advanced cases, the tissue and bone that hold teeth in place start to break down.
How gum bacteria may reach your blood vessels
The American Heart Association describes two main pathways. In the direct route, bacteria from inflamed gums slip into the bloodstream and can reach the walls of blood vessels.
In the indirect route, chronic inflammation in the mouth keeps the whole body in a low-grade inflammatory state. Over time, that may help push along the hardening of the arteries.
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"Your mouth and your heart are connected," said Andrew H. Tran, a pediatric cardiologist at Nationwide Children's Hospital who chaired the statement writing group.
"Gum disease and poor oral hygiene can allow bacteria to enter the bloodstream, causing inflammation that may damage blood vessels and increase the risk of heart disease."
Brushing habits appear to track with risk. The statement cites research showing a 10-year cardiovascular risk of 13.7 percent in people who brushed once a day or less. For those who brushed three or more times a day, the figure was 7.35 percent.
What this does and does not prove
The association is strong, but direct causation has not been settled. The statement notes that a cause-and-effect relationship has not been confirmed, and there is no clear evidence yet that treating gum disease prevents cardiovascular events.
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Gum disease and heart disease also share some of the same risk factors, such as smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity.
That overlap makes it hard to say how much of the link is one condition driving the other.
The finding still fits a growing picture that oral health reaches beyond the mouth.
Gum inflammation has already been linked to several other serious conditions outside the teeth and jaw.
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What you can do
The practical advice is familiar. Brush at least twice a day, floss regularly, and keep routine dental checkups so a dentist can catch inflammation early. The AHA statement also points to the shared risk factors.
Not smoking, managing blood sugar if you have diabetes, and keeping blood pressure and weight in check all help both your gums and your heart.
If your gums bleed often or your breath has turned persistently bad, those are reasons to see a dentist rather than wait.
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This article is made and published by Mie Hermansen, who may have used AI in the preparation.