April 22, 2025
Could Your Gums Predict Your Stroke Risk? Let’s Talk.
We often think of oral health as a cosmetic concern — a brighter smile, fresher breath.
We often think of oral health as a cosmetic concern — a brighter smile, fresher breath.
We often think of oral health as a cosmetic concern — a brighter smile, fresher breath. But mounting evidence shows your mouth might be telling you something far more serious: your stroke risk.
A new umbrella review from a French research team has sharpened the focus on a long-suspected connection. They sifted through 11 existing meta-analyses on periodontal disease and stroke risk and found that periodontitis (advanced gum disease) increases your risk of stroke by 22% — and in some cases, it more than doubles it.
Let that sink in.
Tooth loss also trended towards increased risk, though less significantly. Interestingly, gingivitis — the milder form of gum disease — wasn’t associated with higher stroke risk.
So how can bleeding gums possibly lead to something as serious as a stroke?
It all comes down to inflammation and the mouth-body connection. The mouth is highly vascular, meaning any inflammation can easily spill over into the bloodstream. This allows harmful bacteria and inflammatory messengers like interleukin-6 and TNF-alpha to circulate throughout the body, contributing to atherosclerosis — the narrowing and stiffening of arteries that raises stroke and heart attack risk.
Periodontal inflammation also activates platelets, which can lead to clot formation. This makes the perfect storm: more inflammation, more plaques in arteries, and a greater likelihood of clots. The result? A significantly higher risk of stroke.
Poor oral health has been linked to a wide range of systemic conditions: heart disease, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic lung disease, even Alzheimer’s. Yet it’s still treated as a separate issue in healthcare — often left out of the conversation when it comes to chronic disease prevention.
It’s time to change that.
According to the World Health Organization, Europe has the highest rates of oral disease in the world. Dental decay affects over a third of the population, and nearly 1 in 5 adults lives with some form of periodontal disease. What’s more, oral disease is increasing — particularly in wealthier countries — due in part to aging populations and inconsistent access to dental care.
In France, while over 70% of people claim to brush their teeth twice daily, almost 30% don’t meet this basic recommendation. And even though the French government rolled out the “100% Santé” policy to reimburse essential dental care, 9% of adults still skip dental visits — mainly due to cost. That number rises in lower-income groups.
These aren’t just stats. They’re warning signs.
The good news? Stroke — like gum disease — is largely preventable. And improving your oral hygiene is one of the most accessible, affordable ways to take control of your long-term health.
If you’re managing chronic illness, recovering from stroke, or trying to reduce your cardiovascular risk, it’s worth adding oral health into your routine care.
We’re diving deeper into this conversation with Dr. Neeraj Puri in our next episode of The Science of Turning Back Time. Dr. Puri brings a unique perspective from the world of vascular medicine and public health, and we’ll explore how inflammation, oral health, and stroke risk all connect — and what you can do to reduce your risk today.
Don’t miss it — it’s the episode that might just change the way you look at your toothbrush.
Here are the links: https://youtu.be/rwVgtJ9n08M
https://open.spotify.com/show/4GKIm7dDDfqU1PqSK6IgPf