Heart disease is the leading cause of death in developed countries. In the U.S., an estimated 12.4 million people suffer from this disease and 1.1 million people will develop serious heart problems this year. In 2000, 16.7 million people died of the disease, or approximately 30.3% of total deaths worldwide. More than half reported from developing countries. IN Indonesia, the prevalence of heart disease from year to year increase.
In addition to classic risk factors (smoking, obesity, cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, less activity, diabetes mellitus, stress), the results of recent research says that the inflammatory reaction (inflammation) of chronic infectious diseases may also be a risk factor. Even so, the only proven chronic dental diseases associated with heart disease.
Deployment mechanism
The spread of dental disease to other organs can be explained by the theory of focal infection.
Focal infection is a chronic infection in a given place and trigger the disease elsewhere. Toxins, waste materials, as well as penginfeksi microbes can spread to other places in the body such as kidneys, heart, eyes, skin. Impact of dental disease on the heart may be a coronary heart disease, inflammation of muscles, and heart valves (endocarditis).
Bacteria that shipped with the blood flow can produce enzymes that speed up the formation of blood clots that harden the heart blood vessel walls (atherosclerosis). Bacteria can also be attached to the coating (plaque) of fat in the blood vessels of the heart and strengthen the plaque. All of it, blocking blood flow and distribution of food and oxygen to the heart, so the heart does not function properly.
The initial symptoms may include chest pain, include a burning feeling, depressed, and a heavy load on the left chest, which may extend to the left arm, neck, chin, and shoulders. Chest pain is also felt in the middle of the chest for several minutes. After the event is usually followed by nausea, vomiting, dizziness, cold sweats, leg and arm became cold, panting, and shortness of breath.
Prolonged angina will lead to a heart attack (myocardial infarction). However, coronary heart disease often take place without the presence of symptoms, it does not cause problems until the situation is severe.
Alternatively, an inflammatory reaction caused by dental disease increases plaque formation that spur blood vessel wall thickening. Research shows people with dental disease have two times higher risk of coronary heart disease.
Endocarditis
Bacteria found in dental plaque is one of the factors that cause endocarditis.
Bacteria in cavities or gum which can be broken into the blood circulation through the gums are bleeding. These bacteria are easily attack the heart valves or heart muscle has been weakened. Symptoms include fever, heart murmur, bleeding under the skin, even embolization (blockage) of small blood vessels in other organs.
Although rare, the disease can be fatal and sometimes require emergency heart valve surgery. It is also highly recommended antibiotics for prophylaxis in people who suffer from heart valve prolapse, rheumatic heart disease and congenital heart defects, prior to getting dental treatment measures.
Because preventing is always better than cure, need good dental care and regular dental examinations. How to prevent the formation of tartar quite simply, is to diligently and thoroughly clean your teeth properly. Brushing the tongue for 30 seconds is also shown to reduce the number of bacteria in the mouth.
Brochures brushing is good and right can be obtained easily in every dentist's practice. The use of dental floss (dental floss) is also very important to clean areas not easily reached by a toothbrush, especially the area between the teeth and also the teeth crowding.
