Healthy Smiles, Healthy Hearts™ for Professionals
Individuals with periodontal disease face a 28% higher likelihood of developing cardiovascular conditions.1
It is important for clinicians to recognize the growing evidence linking oral health and cardiovascular outcomes. Integrating dental hygiene into preventive care strategies may help reduce systemic inflammation and improve long-term heart health.
Treating gum disease improves endothelial function and reduces systemic inflammation, highlighting the need to integrate oral health into cardiovascular prevention. Promoting oral hygiene and early periodontal care may help lower cardiovascular risk at the population level.
eModule
Coming November 2025
Vodcasts
Coming in 2026
Additional Resources
- Learn about the importance of oral health and what CDC is doing to improve oral health in the U.S.
- From the CDC, Oral Health Facts
- More than just teeth: How oral health can affect the heart (PDF)
- Oral health and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease: A Review
- Periodontitis and cardiovascular diseases: Consensus report
- Periodontal inflammation and the risk of cardiovascular disease (unable to hyperlink as the user will hit a paywall. I have attached a PDF of the article – is there a way for you to include this on the website? If it does not work to do so, then please omit this reference.)
- Association between dental floss use and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in American adults
More Ways to Engage:
Explore all components of the American Heart Association's Healthy Smiles, Healthy Hearts™ initiative to bring integrated care to life in your setting.
Learn more here!
Delta Dental is a proud to collaborate with the American Heart Association's Healthy Smiles, Healthy Hearts initiative.