The current theory is that bacteria in infected gums come loose and move throughout the body. The same bacteria that cause gum disease and irritate your gums might travel to your arteries. Researchers are unsure what causes the bacteria to become mobile, but it had been suggested that bacteria could be dislodged and enter the bloodstream during tasks as simple as brushing, flossing or even chewing. Research shows that risk varies according to the level of gum infection. The worse the infection, the more likely the bacteria are to become blood-borne.
Infected gums bleed, making it easier for bacteria to enter the bloodstream.
If bacteria becomes dislodged, the bacteria enter through cuts or sores in your mouth and travel to other parts of the body through your bloodstream. Once bacteria reaches the arteries, they can irritate them in the same way that they irritate gum tissue. This could cause arterial plaque to accumulate in the arteries, which can cause hardening and block blood flow. Compromised blood-flow to your heart can cause heart attack. Also, arterial plaque can come loose and travel to other parts of the parts of the body.