So the question is, does tooth decay really affect your heart? And the answer is “no.” But infection in the tissue or if tooth decay actually reaches the nerve of a tooth to the point that you now have a chronic or acute abscess, then in theory, you now have bacteria that’s circulating throughout your body that ultimately could lodge somewhere in your heart, specifically on a heart valve and cause damage that could ultimately either require surgery or conceivably cause death.
This type of severe reaction doesn’t happen too often, but it’s definitely something to be aware of.
The same concept can be applied to gum tissue. If there’s chronic break down or chronic inflammation in the gum tissue, then bacteria now has the opportunity to begin circulating around the body. Once this happens, your immune system is now battling this bacteria (by itself), which can cause any number of problems throughout your body, including your heart.
Important to Note: People who have prosthetic hips or knees are more succeptable to infection caused by tooth decay. Bacteria can lodge in these vulnerable areas which can cause re-infection, or even loss of use of that prosthetic joint.
So remember the only way tooth decay can actually affect your heart and the other systems in your body is if the decay reaches the nerve of a tooth to the point that you now have a chronic or acute abscess.
The best way to avoid something like this is to consistently care for your teeth by brushing and flossing on a regular basis. This will prevent tooth decay from building up inside your mouth and keep you safe from any serious bacterial infections throughout your body.
