Oral bacteria may affect heart valves
A recent scientific study indicates that the gum bacteria known as P. gingivalis not only harm teeth but can also travel to heart valves and contribute to calcium buildup, leading to aortic valve stenosis and making it difficult for blood to pass from the heart to the rest of the body. The study, presented at the American Heart Association conference, revealed that the bacteria gather in the valves and cause increased calcium deposits, which can progress to aortic valve stenosis—a condition that is currently hard to treat. However, experimental results on mice show that preventive antibiotics may reduce these effects. This research represents a significant step toward developing new methods for the prevention and treatment of this heart disease by understanding the fundamental role that bacteria play in its development.
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