08/03/2025
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Dr. Adam Coughran
My patient came in for a routine cleaning. Mid-40s. Healthy on paper. Bleeding gums.
Six months later, she had a heart attack.
What if bleeding gums aren’t just a mouth problem?What if they’re the first visible sign of cardiovascular disease?
We now know they often are.
The same bacteria that cause gum disease have been found in arterial plaque
Gum inflammation drives up CRP—a marker of systemic inflammation and heart risk
Bleeding gums can raise your CRP score more than a poor diet or lack of exercise
That’s why I wrote a letter to every physician I work with. To connect the dots. To make sure we’re not treating the mouth in isolation.
If you want the letter, comment “HEART” and I’ll send it to you.
It comes with blank spaces so you can fill in your name and start using it with your doctors or with your own patients. Thousands of cardiologists and functional dentists around the world already have.
If your gums bleed when you floss, don’t ignore it. Ask your dentist what it might be saying about your heart.
