Correlation Between Cardiovascular Diseases and Periodontitis

Recent advances in biomedical research have established a substantial association between periodontitis and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) 1,2. Periodontitis, recognized as a chronic inflammatory condition affecting the supporting tissues of the teeth, has been increasingly implicated in the development of systemic inflammatory responses that adversely influence cardiovascular health 3,4. Accumulating clinical evidence suggests that individuals with severe periodontal disease frequently exhibit significantly elevated serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), often reaching two- to three-fold higher concentrations compared with healthy subjects 5,6. Elevated CRP has been widely acknowledged as an independent predictor of atherosclerotic progression and adverse coronary events 4. Moreover, inflammatory mediators and bacterial endotoxins originating from periodontal lesions may disseminate through systemic circulation, thereby contributing to endothelial dysfunction and promoting atherogenesis 7,8. Periodontal pathogens have also been associated with transient bacteremia, platelet activation, and thrombotic processes, further supporting the biological relationship between oral and cardiovascular diseases 12.