Coronary artery disease
Did you know that there’s a connection between coronary artery disease and gum disease? Your mouth has thousands of bacteria, and some can affect other parts of your body. When bacteria from the mouth enter the blood vessels, they attach to fatty plaques in the heart’s blood vessels (coronary arteries). This buildup may lead to a heart attack or stroke. In fact, people with gum disease have two to three times the risk of heart attack, stroke, or other serious cardiovascular events.
If you have heart disease, make good oral health a priority
If you’ve been diagnosed with coronary artery disease, maintaining good oral hygiene can help you avoid experiencing additional complications. A recent study found that gum disease leads to increased arterial inflammation, which increases the risk of experiencing cardiovascular events. So, it’s important to brush after every meal and before bedtime and floss at least once a day.
Getting professional dental cleanings regularly also helps because when plaque accumulates, it can harden and turn into tartar. Once tartar has formed, only your dentist or hygienist can remove it.
If you notice any symptoms of gum disease, make an appointment with your dentist. The sooner you seek care, the better your chances of reversing any damage and protecting your overall health.
A unique program that supports better overall health—at no extra cost
If you have a history of coronary artery disease or other eligible conditions that can affect your health, our Oral Health for Overall HealthSM program’s preventive dental services can help you live healthier. The Mayo Clinic recently found that members with coronary artery disease enrolled in a similar medical and dental care integration program achieved better health outcomes and realized significant savings on medical costs.
These valuable services are available to enrolled members at no extra cost when visiting a participating provider. Program benefits include two extra cleanings or preventive visits per year (a total of four).
If you have health and dental plans from Florida Blue and have been diagnosed with coronary artery disease, you’re automatically enrolled. If you don’t have a health plan with Florida Blue, you can easily enroll online.
Once enrolled, all you need to do is make an appointment with a participating dentist.