Oral health and cardiovascular disease

Several studies have examined a potential relationship between periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease. This article aims to update the evidence for a potential association by summarizing the evidence for causality between periodontitis and comorbidities linked to cardiovascular disease, including hypertension, atrial fibrillation, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus and hyperlipidemia. We additionally discuss the evidence for periodontal therapy as a means to improved management of these comorbidities, with the larger goal of examining the value of periodontal therapy on reduction of cardiovascular disease risk.