Tooth decay is a disease found in the teeth, which causes great damage. Most often, tooth decay will begin when bacteria from plaque feeds on sugars in the mouth caused by food particles. These sugars in the mouth will be converted into lactic acid, which will start to harm the teeth and cause cavities. This overall process will lead to serious tooth decay, which researchers have shown has been connected to heart disease.

First of all, as bacteria begins to feed on the teeth to cause tooth decay, it will create blood clots in the arteries. This can be a fatal issue if the blood clots are released into the bloodstream, which will cause a heart attack. Another issue is that as plaque forms on the teeth, it will cause the gums to become inflamed. In these circumstances, the blood vessels will begin to inflame, and the plaque will start to harm the arteries. In extreme cases of tooth decay, a person could experience symptoms of a heart attack, like pain in the chest or left arm. If you are suffering from the condition of tooth decay, you must have it treated right away so that you do not remain at risk for a heart attack.

Scientists have also discovered that genetics play a role between heart disease and tooth decay. One sign of healthy gums is if they are firm and pink. A sign of disease in your gums is if they are bleeding, swollen, or red. Other common gum diseases can be related to heart disease, including gingivitis. Gingivitis causes a gap between the teeth and gums caused by bacteria. The symptoms of this disease will be bleeding, swelling, and redness in the gums. Another like issue is if the wisdom teeth don't grow completely into the mouth, which will cause a gap. This can allow food particles to buildup in these gaps, which will cause tooth decay and pain. If you do not treat this issue, the neck and cheeks will start to swell. If this is left further untreated, it could result in periodontitis, where the root of the teeth are affected. The end result of this will be receding gums and damage to the bones in the mouth.

Many times, the symptoms of tooth decay are very subtle and can start out with a toothache or pain in the mouth. Other symptoms may include having a hard time eating sweet or hard foods, including hot and cold sensitivity. You could also struggle with chronic bad breath and pain if you put pressure on your teeth. If you do see yellow, brown, or black spots on your teeth, that is a sure symptom of tooth decay.

If any of these symptoms occur, it is very important to consult your dentist right away to make sure that the problem can be treated. This is the best way to prevent tooth decay, which can often be linked to heart disease, if it is left untreated.