What is the relationship between periodontitis and angina pectoris?

Inflammatory diseases of the mouth and throat are the focus of infection and can spread the infection to the internal organs. No wonder dentists recommend sanitizing the oral cavity of every person every six months. Periodontitis, gingivitis, periostitis, stomatitis, pulpitis, caries, tonsillitis – These are diseases in which the inflammatory process may be against the background of the presence of pathogenic pathogens. They are capable of causing damage to internal organs. For example, periodontitis can cause angina pectoris. How periodontitis affects the condition of the heart, read on estet-portal.com.

Periodontitis. Symptoms of acute and chronic periodontitis

Periodontitis is characterized by the presence of a focus of purulent infection in the area of ​​the apex of the tooth root. The development of periodontitis leads to the formation of a periapical abscess. With periodontitis, the infection enters through the openings of the canals, which are located on the tops of the roots.

In the presence of acute periodontitis,  patients complain of pain that is felt in one particular tooth. Tapping and biting on the tooth aggravates this pain. With the development of a purulent process from a serous one, pain of a pulsating nature is felt, gum flux often appears. The general condition is also disturbed, malaise, weakness appear, the temperature rises to subfebrile numbers. Patients may refuse to eat due to tooth pain.

Chronic periodontitis often has no symptoms. This form of periodontitis is dangerous, because in the absence of symptoms, the process can spread to other organs, causing diseases and pathological conditions. Thus, the presence of periodontitis increases the risk of developing heart disease, in particular angina pectoris.

Periodontitis and heart disease. Is there a link between diseases?

The microbiological mechanism between gum disease and heart disease has been studied. In Sweden, a study was conducted that studied the activity of the bacterium & nbsp; Porphyromonas gingivalis, which plays a major role in the development of periodontitis. Periodontitis can damage the soft tissues around the teeth and even bone tissue. Scientists have found that this bacterium affects the expression of genes that encode proteins for inflammation and atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries.

Porphyromonas gingivalis has been previously identified in coronary artery plaques in patients with angina pectoris. It has been observed that the presence of periodontitis accelerates the formation of plaques in the aorta and provokes the development of heart disease, in particular angina pectoris.

How does periodontitis affect the cells of the heart – vascular system?

In the experiment, smooth muscle cells of the aorta were grown by infecting them with the bacterium Porphyromonas gingivalis. The thing is that these cells of smooth muscle tissue completely mimic the tissue of the heart and are an ideal model for studying such cardio – vascular disorders, like atherosclerosis, at the cellular level. Thus, the mechanism of the occurrence of heart diseases, namely angina pectoris against the background of periodontitis, became clear.

When tissues become infected with Porphyromonas gingivalis, they begin to secrete gingipine enzymes that damage the angiopoietin bond. Angiopoietins are proteins that take part in inflammation. Against the background of this inflammation, good conditions are created for the development of atherosclerosis. In addition, gingipaina enzymes increase the expression of the pro-inflammatory protein angiopoietin-2, while the expression of the anti-inflammatory  angiopoietin protein-1.

Thus, the absence of pain in the teeth should not prevent the patient from visiting the dentist, because periodontitis may not manifest itself, and the bacterium Porphyromonas gingivalis can provoke the development of angina pectoris.