Gum disease bacteria can promote calcium buildup in the heart’s aortic valve, leading to a common and serious form of heart valve disease, according to a preliminary independent study presented at the American Heart Association’s 2026 Basic Cardiovascular Science Session. The conference, to be held in Boston from July 13-16, 2026, is one of the world’s largest conferences dedicated to basic and translational research in cardiovascular science.
According to the American Heart Association, calcific aortic stenosis (CAVS) occurs when the aortic valve thickens and becomes calcified, restricting blood flow from the heart to the rest of the body. There may be no symptoms in the early stages. However, as symptoms progress, it can cause fatigue, chest pain, shortness of breath, fainting, heart failure and, in some cases, early death. The standard treatment for severe CAVS is valve replacement surgery.
This study identifies potential biological pathways linking chronic oral periodontal disease and infection with calcified aortic stenosis.
Currently, there are no drugs proven to prevent or slow the progression of CAVS. We hope that our findings demonstrating an association between periodontal disease and CAVS will encourage further research into new preventive and therapeutic approaches to this disease. ”
Chenyang Li, MD, study co-lead author, Ph.D. Candidate, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Diseases, National Cardiovascular Center, Fuwai Hospital, Department of Cardiovascular Disease, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College
The researchers focused on a bacterium called P. gingivalis that plays a disproportionately large role in causing gum inflammation and destruction of gum tissue. P. gingivalis has also previously been linked to systemic inflammation and the risk of cardiovascular disease, including plaque buildup in the arteries and coronary artery disease.
Researchers measured various bacterial levels in human heart valve tissue removed during valve replacement surgery. They studied samples taken from patients with CAVS and other valve diseases.
“We were surprised by how many P. gingivalis were present in the calcified aortic valve,” Lee said. “Although this bacterium was not one of the most abundant bacteria overall, it showed one of the greatest differences between valves with and without CAVS. This unexpected finding led us to investigate its potential role in the pathogenesis of CAVS.”
Researchers used mice to investigate how P. gingivalis is associated with the development of CAVS. The researchers fed mice live and heat-inactivated P. gingivalis to see if the bacteria could accumulate within the aortic valve, causing further calcification and causing symptoms of aortic stenosis. Some mice were given antibiotics, while others had the IL-1β inflammatory pathway genetically disabled or eliminated.
Researchers found that repeated exposure of mice to live P. gingivalis led to bacterial accumulation within the aortic valve, increased valve calcification, and symptoms of aortic stenosis, while preventive antibiotic treatment alleviated these effects. In mouse valve cells, P. gingivalis activated interleukin-1 beta (IL-1b), an inflammation-inducing protein made primarily by the body’s immune cells.
In further testing, when the researchers genetically deleted IL-1b in mice, calcification and valve symptoms were significantly reduced, even in the presence of P. gingivalis..
“The key message is simple: Take care of your oral health,” Lee said. “Good oral hygiene and treatment of periodontal disease are important for overall health and may also benefit cardiovascular health. Although it is still too early to recommend specific treatments to prevent CAVS, our findings suggest that periodontal health may be an important piece of the puzzle.”
“This study adds to the growing body of evidence that oral health and heart health are closely linked,” said Eduardo Sanchez, MD, MPH, FAHA, chief medical officer for prevention at the American Heart Association. “For many people, regular visits to the dentist’s office are their only connection to the health care system, making dental professionals an important partner in early detection of health conditions, including periodontal disease. This can lead to faster medical referrals and outcomes, better health and life-saving outcomes.”
The American Heart Association’s Healthy Smiles, Healthy Hearts™ initiative provides dental care teams with professional education focused on the relationship between oral health and heart health, standard blood pressure screening and referral guides for dental practice patients, and educational materials for patients to improve both oral and heart health.
This study has limitations because the findings have not been confirmed in humans. Researchers have begun a clinical study to further evaluate the association between periodontal disease and CAVS.
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