Oral Health and Heart Disease: Why Dental Discounts Are a Medical Decision, Not a Perk | 125 Managed Health
Most people think of a dental visit as routine maintenance, something you schedule when a tooth hurts or when you finally get around to booking it. But a growing body of research is making it harder to separate what happens in your mouth from what happens in your heart, and the connection may be more significant than most Americans realize. It is part of why 125 Managed Health includes dental discounts as a core component of its supplemental benefits plan, treating oral care as a health priority rather than an optional add-on.
According to KFF's Health Tracking Poll (May 2025), 36% of U.S. adults skipped or postponed needed health care in the past 12 months because of cost, and dental visits consistently rank among the most frequently delayed services (Source: KFF). That is not just a dental health problem. Given what researchers now understand about the relationship between oral health and cardiovascular disease, skipping a dental visit may carry risks that go well beyond a cavity. Here is what the latest science actually says.
What the Research Actually Says
In December 2025, the American Heart Association published a major scientific statement in its flagship journal, Circulation, reporting evidence that gum disease is associated with a higher risk of heart attack, stroke, atrial fibrillation, and heart failure. The statement also makes clear that this is an association, not yet confirmed cause-and-effect, but researchers think the link may involve two main pathways: oral bacteria can enter the bloodstream, and ongoing gum inflammation can increase systemic inflammation, which is linked to blood vessel dysfunction over time (Source: American Heart Association).
A 2025 peer-reviewed review summarizes evidence that periodontal disease is associated with higher cardiovascular risk, but the size of the risk varies across studies and study designs (Source: MDPI). That pattern across multiple studies is hard to ignore and reframes what it means to skip a dental cleaning.
The Stroke Risk Few People Talk About
Beyond heart attacks, oral health is now being linked to stroke risk in ways that are measurable and potentially modifiable. A study published in October 2025 in Neurology Open Access followed thousands of adults over two decades and found that people with both gum disease and cavities had an 86% greater risk of ischemic stroke compared to those with healthy mouths. Even more striking, participants who visited the dentist regularly were 81% less likely to develop both conditions at the same time (Source: American Academy of Neurology).
Regular dental visits, it turns out, do more than keep your smile looking clean. They may be one of the most straightforward habits that supports oral health and may help lower cardiovascular risk factors over time.
When Dental Treatment Supports Vascular Health
The conversation shifted further in late 2025, when researchers at University College London published a randomized controlled trial in the European Heart Journal. They found that intensive periodontal treatment, including deep cleaning below the gum line with follow-up care, was linked to improved endothelial function and slower progression of carotid artery thickening (cIMT) over 24 months. These are cardiovascular risk markers, so the findings suggest gum treatment may support vascular health, even though the study did not measure heart attacks or strokes directly (Source: European Heart Journal).
This makes the oral-heart connection more actionable in one key way: treating gum disease improves markers tied to vascular health. Treating gum disease is not only about saving teeth, it may also support healthier blood vessels.
Why the Cost Barrier Has Bigger Consequences Than We Think
Even with all this evidence, access to dental care remains a significant obstacle for millions of Americans. CDC oral health surveillance data (BRFSS) suggests that about two-thirds of U.S. adults report visiting a dentist or dental clinic within the past year, meaning about 1 in 3 do not (Source: CDC). When dental care feels optional because it is not covered or simply too expensive, people tend to skip it. Based on what research now suggests, that decision may have consequences far beyond the mouth.
This is exactly why the dental discount benefits built into programs like 125 Managed Health deserve a second look. When dental care becomes more affordable and easier to access, people are more likely to actually go. And when they go consistently, they catch gum disease early, before it has the chance to contribute to something far more serious.
Your Mouth Is Telling Your Heart Something
Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States, and the evidence linking oral health to heart disease risk is stronger now. For employees, that means dental benefits are not a nice-to-have perk. They are a meaningful part of staying healthy long-term.
At 125 Managed Health, dental discounts are built into a broader supplemental benefits plan designed to complement existing coverage, not replace it. If your current plan does not make dental care affordable enough to use regularly, it is worth exploring what a smarter benefit structure could look like for your team. You can learn more about how Section 125 plans can increase employee take-home pay while expanding access to care, or review the employer checklist for adding supplemental benefits without disrupting existing coverage. You may also visit our Blog Hub for more insights.
The link between oral health and cardiovascular health is supported by growing evidence, even though researchers are still working out exactly how direct the relationship is. It is an opportunity to make a more informed choice about the benefits your employees deserve. Book an appointment with 125 Managed Health to see what that could look like for your company.
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This blog is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare provider for personal health decisions.
