A new study offers more evidence that oral health is connected to heart health: Older women who harbor certain bacteria in their mouths might be at increased risk of developing high blood pressure. The study, which followed 1,200 women for a decade, found that 15 types of mouth bacteria were linked to the odds of developing high blood pressure. Most were tied to an increased risk, but a few types were potentially protective. Advertisement The findings do not prove that microbes in the mouth directly influence blood pressure, said Michael LaMonte, a senior author on the study and a research professor at the University at Buffalo-State University of New York. So it's not yet clear, he said, whether brushing and flossing can help control your blood pressure, too. RELATED Many dental hygienists who left work during pandemic haven't returned But the notion isn't far-fetched, either. Studies in recent years have found that people with severe gum disease, which is a bacterial infection, tend to have heightened risks of heart disease and high blood pressure. Advertisement One theory is that once gum disease sets in, "bad" oral bacteria may get into the systemic circulation and contribute to inflammation in the blood vessels. Some research also suggests that people with high blood pressure tend to have a different oral microbiome than people with normal blood pressure. The "microbiome" refers to the trillions of bacteria and other microbes that dwell in the human body. Most of those bugs reside in the gut -- but the mouth has its own large microbial community. RELATED Vaping may damage teeth, gums, study finds LaMonte's team wanted to find out whether specific oral bacteria were linked to the risk of developing high blood pressure in the future. So they used data from 1,215 women who were part of a larger U.S. study called the Women's Health Initiative. The women, aged 53 to 81 at the outset, underwent a dental exam that included taking a plaque sample. Those samples were analyzed to determine the composition of the oral microbiome. Over the next decade, 735 women were newly diagnosed with high blood pressure. LaMonte's team found that 15 oral bacteria were connected to the condition. In most cases, a greater abundance of the bug meant a higher risk of high blood pressure, but five bacteria were tied to a decreased risk. Advertisement RELATED Poor dental health puts children with heart conditions at risk The findings, published Wednesday in the Journal of the American Heart Association, do not answer the question of why. But LaMonte pointed to one potential mechanism: nitric oxide (NO) production. "Some of the bugs that live in our mouths provide a source of NO," LaMonte said. Nitric oxide matters because it helps relax blood vessels and regulate blood pressure. One of the bacterial types identified in this study is involved in the NO process -- but only one, LaMonte said. That leaves open the question of what all the other bacteria might be doing to sway blood pressure. And it's possible they are not directly doing anything. They may simply be a "marker" of something else, said Dr. Willie Lawrence, chair of the American Heart Association's National Hypertension Control Initiative Advisory Committee. Lawrence, who was not involved in the study, noted the researchers tried to account for other factors that affect blood pressure. They included body weight, education level, and diet, exercise and smoking habits, along with certain health conditions like diabetes and high cholesterol. But, Lawrence said, there could still be other reasons for the connection between oral bacteria and blood pressure. "This is an interesting finding," he said, "and it tells us there may be more to blood pressure control than we understand. We need to keep an open mind." Advertisement LaMonte agreed there is a lot left to learn. For one, he said, studies should look at the link between oral bacteria and the risk of future high blood pressure in other populations, including men. As for proving that oral bacteria, themselves, exert an effect, that would take an intervention study. One possibility, LaMonte said, would be a trial where people with elevated blood pressure are given probiotics designed to "shift the oral microbiome composition from bad to good," then see if that improves their blood pressure numbers. Then there is the question of whether good oral hygiene -- daily brushing and flossing, and regular dental checkups -- can help maintain a healthy blood pressure. "I think it could," LaMonte said. "But right now, we don't have the evidence to prove that." More information Harvard Medical School has more on oral health and heart health. Copyright © 2021 HealthDay. All rights reserved. Latest Headlines Health News // 8 hours ago Just 2.15% of U.S. hospital beds are now used for COVID-19 patients April 1 (UPI) -- As of Friday, just 2.15% of hospital beds nationwide are in use for COVID-19 patients, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Health News // 11 hours ago Heart disease remains No. 1 killer of women, but awareness falls Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in America, accounting for more than one in five deaths. Still, far too few women realize the danger. Health News // 12 hours ago U.S. surgeons' group teaching Ukrainians to treat war wounds Images of Ukrainians wounded and bleeding, are heartbreaking, but one American surgeons' group is doing its part to help teach the war-torn country's citizens how to halt life-threatening bleeds. Health News // 12 hours ago Number of seniors who die with dementia rises 30% since early 2000s April 1 (UPI) -- Rates of Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia among Medicare beneficiaries increased by more than 30% over the past two decades or so, an analysis published Friday by JAMA Health Forum found. Health News // 13 hours ago Most teens with substance use disorder still have it as adults, study finds April 1 (UPI) -- Most teenagers who develop substance use disorders continue to suffer from problems related to drug or alcohol addiction as adults, a study published Friday by JAMA Network Open found. Health News // 13 hours ago Omicron increased risk for COVID-19 infection among children under 5, study finds April 1 (UPI) -- During the surge in cases fueled by the Omicron variant, children age 5 years and younger caught COVID-19 at rates six- to eight-fold higher than those seen with the Delta strain, a JAMA Pediatrics study found. Health News // 21 hours ago Simpler surgery may work as well as standard for women with incontinence For women with frequent urine leakage, a newer and simpler "sling" surgery works as well as the standard version, according to a new clinical trial. Health News // 23 hours ago New drug ecopipam shows promise for treating Tourette syndrome An experimental drug shows promise in reducing tics in young people with Tourette syndrome. Health News // 1 day ago CDC report details mental health crisis among teens during pandemic If there's any doubt that America's teens have suffered mightily during the pandemic, a new government survey offers fresh proof of the pain restrictions from the coronavirus has inflicted on this vulnerable group. Health News // 1 day ago Researchers release complete mapping of human genome NEW YORK, March 31 (UPI) -- An international team of researchers on Thursday released the first complete, gapless sequence of a human genome, nearly 20 years after the Human Genome Project produced its "first draft."

A new study offers more evidence that oral health is connected to heart health: Older women who harbor certain bacteria in their mouths might be at increased risk of developing high blood pressure.

The study, which followed 1,200 women for a decade, found that 15 types of mouth bacteria were linked to the odds of developing high blood pressure. Most were tied to an increased risk, but a few types were potentially protective. Advertisement

The findings do not prove that microbes in the mouth directly influence blood pressure, said Michael LaMonte, a senior author on the study and a research professor at the University at Buffalo-State University of New York.

So it's not yet clear, he said, whether brushing and flossing can help control your blood pressure, too. RELATED Many dental hygienists who left work during pandemic haven't returned

But the notion isn't far-fetched, either. Studies in recent years have found that people with severe gum disease, which is a bacterial infection, tend to have heightened risks of heart disease and high blood pressure. Advertisement

One theory is that once gum disease sets in, "bad" oral bacteria may get into the systemic circulation and contribute to inflammation in the blood vessels.

Some research also suggests that people with high blood pressure tend to have a different oral microbiome than people with normal blood pressure. The "microbiome" refers to the trillions of bacteria and other microbes that dwell in the human body. Most of those bugs reside in the gut -- but the mouth has its own large microbial community. RELATED Vaping may damage teeth, gums, study finds

LaMonte's team wanted to find out whether specific oral bacteria were linked to the risk of developing high blood pressure in the future.

So they used data from 1,215 women who were part of a larger U.S. study called the Women's Health Initiative. The women, aged 53 to 81 at the outset, underwent a dental exam that included taking a plaque sample. Those samples were analyzed to determine the composition of the oral microbiome.

Over the next decade, 735 women were newly diagnosed with high blood pressure. LaMonte's team found that 15 oral bacteria were connected to the condition. In most cases, a greater abundance of the bug meant a higher risk of high blood pressure, but five bacteria were tied to a decreased risk. Advertisement RELATED Poor dental health puts children with heart conditions at risk

The findings, published Wednesday in the Journal of the American Heart Association, do not answer the question of why.

But LaMonte pointed to one potential mechanism: nitric oxide (NO) production.

"Some of the bugs that live in our mouths provide a source of NO," LaMonte said. Nitric oxide matters because it helps relax blood vessels and regulate blood pressure.

One of the bacterial types identified in this study is involved in the NO process -- but only one, LaMonte said.

That leaves open the question of what all the other bacteria might be doing to sway blood pressure.

And it's possible they are not directly doing anything. They may simply be a "marker" of something else, said Dr. Willie Lawrence, chair of the American Heart Association's National Hypertension Control Initiative Advisory Committee.

Lawrence, who was not involved in the study, noted the researchers tried to account for other factors that affect blood pressure. They included body weight, education level, and diet, exercise and smoking habits, along with certain health conditions like diabetes and high cholesterol.

But, Lawrence said, there could still be other reasons for the connection between oral bacteria and blood pressure.

"This is an interesting finding," he said, "and it tells us there may be more to blood pressure control than we understand. We need to keep an open mind." Advertisement

LaMonte agreed there is a lot left to learn. For one, he said, studies should look at the link between oral bacteria and the risk of future high blood pressure in other populations, including men.

As for proving that oral bacteria, themselves, exert an effect, that would take an intervention study. One possibility, LaMonte said, would be a trial where people with elevated blood pressure are given probiotics designed to "shift the oral microbiome composition from bad to good," then see if that improves their blood pressure numbers.

Then there is the question of whether good oral hygiene -- daily brushing and flossing, and regular dental checkups -- can help maintain a healthy blood pressure.

"I think it could," LaMonte said. "But right now, we don't have the evidence to prove that."

Harvard Medical School has more on oral health and heart health.

Copyright © 2021 HealthDay. All rights reserved.