Oral Bacteria May Play a Role in Heart Attacks, Study Finds
A groundbreaking international study has revealed a possible infectious link between oral bacteria and heart attacks, suggesting that cardiovascular disease might, in part, have microbial origins.
Researchers from Finland and the United Kingdom analyzed arterial plaques from over 200 patients with coronary artery disease. Their findings showed that DNA from oral bacteria was present in a majority of these plaques — 65.7% of those collected from autopsies and 57.9% of those surgically removed.
The most commonly identified organism was Streptococcus viridans, a bacterial species typically found in dental plaque. While harmless in the mouth, it can become pathogenic if it enters the bloodstream and adheres to heart tissue or vessel walls. Other oral bacteria detected included Porphyromonas gingivalis, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Fusobacterium nucleatum, and Prevotella intermedia — all known contributors to periodontal disease.
Researchers believe these microorganisms might contribute to chronic inflammation within blood vessels, destabilizing arterial plaques over time. When plaque ruptures, it can trigger the formation of a blood clot, leading to a heart attack. This finding reinforces the concept that oral infections and systemic inflammation are closely intertwined, highlighting that oral health maintenance may have far-reaching effects beyond the mouth.
One of the study’s most intriguing theories is that biofilms of oral bacteria could persist within arterial walls, surviving immune responses and antibiotic treatment. Under certain stress conditions — such as increased blood pressure or oxidative stress — these biofilms may release toxins or inflammatory molecules, leading to acute vascular inflammation and plaque rupture.
While the researchers emphasized that more work is needed to establish a direct cause-and-effect link, their results underscore the potential for a paradigm shift: heart disease might not be purely a lifestyle or genetic condition, but also partly infectious in nature. Preventive dental care, therefore, could play a key role in protecting cardiovascular health.
📖 Original Article Information
Original Article: “First study says a heart attack might be an infectious disease in another link to oral bacteria”
Source: Oral Health Group, May 10, 2025