14/10/2025
🦷 New Study Finds Oral Bacteria Inside Heart Arteries — Suggesting a Direct Link Between Dental Biofilm and Heart Attacks 🦠🫀
A recent study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association (August 2025) has identified DNA from oral bacteria—specifically Viridans streptococci—within nearly half of examined coronary artery plaques. Researchers analyzed arterial samples from patients who had suffered heart attacks and discovered that these bacteria were organized as biofilms, not free-floating cells.
Biofilms are dense bacterial communities encased in a protective matrix. Once formed, they can evade immune defenses and persist for long periods. The study suggests that when these biofilms are disturbed, they may trigger localized inflammation and plaque rupture, both critical events that can lead to myocardial infarction.
This research strengthens the growing evidence that poor oral hygiene and untreated gum infections may have systemic consequences far beyond the mouth. While a direct cause-and-effect pathway is still being studied, the findings highlight how oral microorganisms can infiltrate the bloodstream and integrate into vascular tissues—potentially linking chronic dental biofilm with cardiovascular disease progression.
The study underscores an emerging scientific perspective: the mouth may serve as an entry point for bacteria involved in heart pathology, redefining how both dental and cardiovascular health should be understood in the context of whole-body disease prevention.
🔬Sources:
Karhunen PJ, Pessi T, Karhunen V, et al. Viridans Streptococcal Biofilm Evades Immune Detection and Contributes to Inflammation and Rupture of Atherosclerotic Plaques. Journal of the American Heart Association. 2025
