Simple Gum Fix CRUSHES AFib Risk

Twenty years ago, researchers predicted that around 3.3 million American adults would have atrial fibrillation (AFib) by 2020.

But they were WAY off—and not in a good way.

Instead, it’s estimated that about 10 million people have AFib—three times higher than predicted.

AFib is a heart rhythm disorder that occurs due to disorganized electrical signals. It leads to a higher risk of stroke, heart failure, and more.

What happened over the past 20 years that made this condition so much more prevalent than anticipated?

Well, the reason could be hiding in your mouth.

 

We’ve long known that the gum disease bacterium, Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis), is linked to conditions like Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and cancer.

At the same time, people with a form of gum disease called periodontitis tend to have a higher risk of cardiovascular problems—including a 30 percent higher risk of AFib.

Could gum disease cause this heart problem?

To find out, researchers gave an aggressive strain of P. gingivalis to one group of mice, while a second group remained uninfected.

After 12 weeks, there was no difference in the risk of AFib between groups.

However, by 18 weeks, the mice exposed to P. gingivalis were six times more likely to develop abnormal heart rhythms.

A closer examination revealed tooth decay in the mice and the bacterium embedded in their heart’s left atrium.

Even worse, the heart tissue infected with the bacterium turned stiff and fibrous. This disturbed the heart’s electrical signals and ultimately led to AFib.

In another arm of this study, the researchers examined the left atrial tissue of AFib patients who had undergone heart surgery.

Can you guess what they found there?

P. gingivalis!

Of course, this is far from the first time research has linked the bad bacteria in our mouths to other health problems.

This study confirms that good oral hygiene is also critical for heart health.

If your gums bleed easily, are swollen, or are tender… if you have pus between your teeth and gums… if you have chronically bad breath…  then you can bet your mouth is infected.

The solution is NOT simply brushing and flossing more.

Instead, the best way to promote good oral health is by making a few simple changes to your diet:

• Cut out sugar because it feeds bacteria.
• Avoid processed foods, which often contain highly inflammatory hydrogenated oils and promote the growth of bacteria.
• Eat unprocessed, organic food.

For additional protection, try xylitol chewing gum, which prevents bacteria from building up.

P.S. “Toothbrush” trick could help you DODGE dementia.

View Sources

Miyauchi, S., et al. (2025). Atrial Translocation of Porphyromonas gingivalis Exacerbates Atrial Fibrosis and Atrial Fibrillation. Circulation. doi.org/10.1161/circulationaha.124.071310.