Table of contents:
- What kind of toothache can cause a stroke?
- How can a toothache cause a stroke?
- What types of strokes are caused due to toothaches?
- How do you take care of your teeth to avoid the risk of stroke?
Most people often underestimate the swollen gums until they eventually trigger a bad toothache. Apart from making it difficult for you to speak and chew food, toothache can basically affect a person's overall health condition. In fact, a study shows that if you start from a toothache, a person can get a variety of complications that can endanger the body, including the risk of having a stroke.
What kind of toothache can cause a stroke?
Based on the results of research from a number of countries such as Germany, France, Sweden, India, and Korea, several gum diseases are associated with stroke. The following are some of the gum diseases that are known to cause strokes.
- Mild gum disease, often referred to as gingivitis or inflammation of the gums. A recent study from Sweden conducted a study of more than a thousand people to determine the association of gum disease with stroke. As a result, the researchers reported that gingivitis was clearly associated with stroke.
- Serious gum disease, often referred to as periodontitis, which causes severe damage to the gums.
- Severe periodontitis can cause tooth decay which in turn can cause tooth loss. Tooth loss is a sign silent stroke . Silent stroke is a stroke that is unknown to people (in disguise) because it does not show clear signs. As a result, many people ignore it. However, over time a disguised stroke can lead to limitation problems such as dementia.
Other studies have also shown that people with gum disease ranging from mild to severe have a greater risk of having a stroke than people without gum disease.
How can a toothache cause a stroke?
Various dental problems as described generally begin with gum disease. Gum disease begins with plaque on the teeth that has never been cleaned. Then gradually the plaques will develop into tartar, until finally gum inflammation occurs.
Now, when the gums are inflamed, there is a way for germs to enter the human body. The bacteria that carry these various diseases can eventually enter the blood vessels and cause blockages.
Blockage of blood vessels that occurs in the brain is what then triggers a stroke. Not only stroke, blockage of these blood vessels can also cause a person to experience heart disease. However, it does depend on where the blockage is.
Because the bacteria in the mouth and teeth are located closer to the brain, toothache is very risky of causing blockage of blood vessels in the brain.
What types of strokes are caused due to toothaches?
One study from Germany published in the journal Stroke reports that people with gum disease are more prone to ischemic strokes. Ischemic stroke is a type of stroke that occurs when a blood vessel that supplies blood to an area of the brain is blocked by a blood clot. Ischemic stroke is responsible for 87 percent of total stroke cases.
How do you take care of your teeth to avoid the risk of stroke?
One of the biggest reasons why people don't take care of their teeth is the concern about cost. In fact, dental care can be prevented in simple ways. Some simple ways that can be done include:
- Brush your teeth at least twice a day (when you wake up in the morning and before going to bed) with toothpaste that contains fluoride.
- Don't brush your teeth too hard. This can not only cause the gums to tear, but also erode the relatively thin layer of tooth enamel. As a result, your teeth are more sensitive.
- To do flossing floss at least once a day.
- Avoid consuming sugary foods. There is no need to stop consuming sugar altogether to maintain healthy teeth and mouth. You only need to limit their consumption.
- Quit smoking.
- Diligently go to the dentist at least every six months.
