When Gum Disease Raises Your Blood Pressure
New study reveals hidden cardiovascular risks in people with periodontitis even those otherwise healthy
A Silent Connection Between Mouth and Heart
We often think of bleeding gums as a small dental issue. But a growing body of evidence suggests that gum health is deeply linked to heart health.
A new study from University College London’s Eastman Dental Institute has added striking data to this picture: people with severe gum disease even if otherwise healthy tend to have higher blood pressure.
The Study: Healthy People, But Sore Gums
Researchers examined 500 adults who were otherwise medically healthy. Half had severe periodontitis, a chronic gum infection that destroys the tissues supporting teeth; the other half had no gum disease.
By carefully matching participants for age, sex, and body mass index (BMI), the team ensured that differences in blood pressure couldn’t be explained by common risk factors.
Each participant underwent full-mouth periodontal examination and standardized blood-pressure testing. The researchers also measured blood markers of inflammation such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and white blood cell counts.
What They Found
Compared to people with healthy gums, those with periodontitis had on average:
3.4 mmHg higher systolic blood pressure (the top number),
2.1 mmHg higher diastolic pressure,
and twice the odds of having blood pressure ≥140 mmHg.
Even more revealing, nearly half of participants with gum disease met U.S. criteria for hypertension yet many were unaware of it.
The study also showed that bleeding gums alone, even without advanced disease, were linked to about 5 mmHg higher systolic pressure.
Interestingly, while inflammatory markers were elevated in those with periodontitis, they did not fully explain the rise in blood pressure suggesting that local gum inflammation may influence vascular health through more complex biological pathways.
Why It Matters
High blood pressure is a “silent killer,” affecting over 30% of adults worldwide and driving heart attacks and strokes.
Periodontitis, meanwhile, affects roughly 750 million people globally.
This research highlights how the mouth can serve as an early warning system for cardiovascular risk and that dentists might play a crucial role in detecting hidden hypertension.
Possible Biological Links
Scientists suspect that bacteria from inflamed gums can trigger low-grade systemic inflammation, oxidative stress, and immune responses that stiffen blood vessels and raise pressure. Some oral microbes may even interfere with the nitrate–nitrite–nitric oxide pathway, an essential system for regulating vascular tone.
Brushing for Blood Pressure?
Encouragingly, early studies show that treating gum disease through professional cleaning and better oral hygiene can help reduce blood pressure and improve blood vessel function.
Simple habits like brushing twice a day and regular dental check-ups could therefore contribute not just to a healthy smile, but to a healthier heart.
The Takeaway
This UCL study strengthens the evidence that periodontitis is more than a dental problem.
It’s a potential cardiovascular risk factor, even in young and otherwise healthy people.
The authors urge closer collaboration between dentists and physicians for early detection of hypertension and better prevention strategies that unite oral and systemic health.
Reference:
Muñoz-Aguilera, E., Suvan, J., Orlandi, M., Miró-Catalina, Q., Nart, J., & D’Aiuto, F. (2021). Association Between Periodontitis and Blood Pressure Highlighted in Systemically Healthy Individuals. Hypertension, 77(5), 1765–1774.
DOI: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.120.16790