EP253: Interview with Doctor Patrick Oxborough—Discussing Heart Health & Oral Health

Welcome to my podcast. I am Doctor Warrick Bishop, and I want to help you to live as well as possible for as long as possible. I’m a practising cardiologist, best-selling author, keynote speaker, and the creator of The Healthy Heart Network. I have over 20 years as a specialist cardiologist and a private practice of over 10,000 patients. Episode Summary Dr. Warwick Bishop, a cardiologist and CEO of the Healthy Heart Network, hosts an interview with Dr. Patrick Oxborough, a dentist, to explore the critical connection between oral health and cardiovascular disease. The episode examines how periodontal (gum) disease directly impacts heart health through bacterial transmission and inflammatory responses, and discusses practical treatment strategies for managing both conditions. Key Takeaways: Dentists often see patients more frequently than their doctors and can identify or assess various medical conditions by examining the mouth and teeth. Tooth grinding (bruxism) is often associated with sleep apnea, which can contribute to hypertension and other cardiovascular problems. Severe gum disease allows bacteria to shed into the bloodstream, potentially causing bacterial endocarditis (heart valve infection) when bacteria settle on damaged or irregular heart valves. Periodontal bacteria have been found in atherosclerotic plaques within blood vessels and are believed to drive inflammation that promotes plaque development and increases risk of heart attacks and cardiac events. Treating severe periodontal disease can significantly reduce cardiovascular risk, and heart valve replacement procedures require pre-operative dental workup to ensure good oral health. Strong bidirectional relationships exist between gum disease and type 2 diabetes; treating periodontal disease often improves diabetes control, and vice versa. Main periodontal treatment involves scaling and replaning (removing bacterial irritants and toxins around teeth) combined with managing blood sugar control, smoking cessation, and weight management. Smoking is a major driver of periodontal disease and must be addressed as part of treatment strategy. Some patients with severe inflammatory responses may benefit from antibiotics in addition to scaling and planing to improve healing outcomes. While evidence is strongest for heart disease and diabetes, emerging research suggests periodontal disease may be linked to other inflammatory and immune-related conditions.