The association between the heart and oral health is well-established. In particular, periodontal disease is closely correlated with cardiovascular disease – poor oral hygiene, infection, and inflammation in the mouth can lead to endothelial dysfunction.[i] There is also some evidence associating tooth loss with an increased risk of stroke.[ii]
Improved dental health has been directly linked with a reduction in blood biomarkers for systemic inflammation.[iii] This makes the dental professional’s role an important one for patients at risk of or currently managing heart conditions.
Beyond the dental practice, innovative research is underway in the field that aims to transform the management and treatment of common heart conditions.
3D heart modelling
Among these is the ongoing development of a new AI-supported model for imaging the heart and personalising the ablation procedure.[iv] This typically involves inserting thin tubes into the heart, applying heat or cold energy to scar specific areas of the atrium and block abnormal electrical signals in order to restore a regular heart rhythm. Treatment becomes harder over time as individuals need repeated procedures. Researchers are creating a new treatment approach with computer-generated models that utilise data from hundreds of past patients to make ablation more effective, more efficient, and more predictable.
CureHeart
Another fascinating area of study is CureHeart,[v] which is a research initiative dedicated to curing inherited heart muscle diseases, or genetic cardiomyopathies. Part of their work is developing genetic therapies that target faulty genes through antisense silencing or gene editing to treat symptoms and improve the patient’s quality of life. They are also working on delivery strategies that optimise the efficiency and success of these new therapies.
Regenerative breakthroughs
The Medical Research Council and British Heart Foundation are also co-funding the development of therapies that stimulate repair and regeneration following a heart attack in those with heart failure.[vi] The revolutionary research is looking to stimulate growth of heart muscle and blood vessels to combat scarring and awaken self-regeneration. While there is still some way to go, this line of thinking could transform our approach to cardiovascular health.
Back to dentistry
Though not directly relevant in the dental practice, it is always beneficial to be aware of research in other fields of medicine. This was an interesting topic to look into for National Heart Month, which is a useful reminder of the many crossovers between oral and systemic health. As research continues to push the boundaries in treatment possibilities, dental professionals remain well placed to play a meaningful role in supporting broader cardiovascular wellbeing.
Author: Michael Sultan, EndoCare
[i] Etta I, Kambham S, Girigosavi KB, Panjiyar BK. Mouth-Heart Connection: A Systematic Review on the Impact of Periodontal Disease on Cardiovascular Health. Cureus. 2023 Oct 6;15(10):e46585. doi: 10.7759/cureus.46585. PMID: 37933364; PMCID: PMC10625740.
[ii] Fagundes NCF, Couto RSD, Brandão APT, Lima LAO, Bittencourt LO, Souza-Rodrigues RD, Freire MAM, Maia LC, Lima RR. Association between Tooth Loss and Stroke: A Systematic Review. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis. 2020 Aug;29(8):104873. doi: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2020.104873. Epub 2020 Jun 8. PMID: 32689647.
[iii] Bezamat M. An updated review on the link between oral infections and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease with focus on phenomics. Front Physiol. 2022 Dec 14;13:1101398. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2022.1101398. PMID: 36589419; PMCID: PMC9794572.
[iv] Medical research project, 3D heart modelling for personalised ablation. Heart Research UK. https://heartresearch.org.uk/professionals/medical-research/medical-research-projects/3d-heart-modelling-for-personalised-ablation/ [Accessed January 2026]
[v] The journey to a cure. British Heart Foundation. https://www.bhf.org.uk/what-we-do/our-research/cureheart/the-journey-to-a-cure [Accessed January 2026]
[vi] Pringle P. Transformational new gene therapy research centre launched. December 2024. https://www.bhf.org.uk/what-we-do/news-from-the-bhf/news-archive/2024/december/transformational-new-gene-therapy-research-centre-launched [Accessed January 2026]
