Bacteria commonly associated with gum disease may contribute to the hardening and narrowing of the heart's aortic valve, according to preliminary research presented at the American Heart Association's Basic Cardiovascular Sciences Scientific Sessions 2026 in Boston. The study, conducted on mice and human cardiac tissue, identifies a potential biological pathway linking chronic oral infection to calcific aortic valve stenosis (CAVS), a condition that currently has no medication to prevent or slow its progression.
CAVS occurs when the aortic valve thickens and calcifies, restricting blood flow from the heart to the rest of the body. In its early stages, the condition may be asymptomatic, but as it progresses, it can lead to fatigue, chest pain, shortness of breath, fainting, heart failure, and sometimes premature death. Standard treatment for severe CAVS is valve replacement surgery.
The researchers focused on Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis), a bacterium that plays a major role in causing gum inflammation and destruction of gum tissue. This bacterium has previously been associated with systemic inflammation and cardiovascular disease, including plaque buildup in the arteries and coronary artery disease. The team measured bacterial levels in human cardiac valve tissue removed during valve replacement surgery from patients with and without CAVS.
“We were surprised by how much P. gingivalis was present in the calcified aortic valves,” said co-lead author Chenyang Li, M.D., a Ph.D. candidate at Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College in Beijing. “Although it was not one of the most abundant bacteria overall, it showed one of the largest differences between valves with CAVS and valves without CAVS.”
In mouse experiments, repeated exposure to live P. gingivalis led to bacterial accumulation in aortic valves, increased valve calcification, and symptoms of aortic stenosis. Preventive antibiotic treatment reduced these effects. The researchers also found that P. gingivalis activated interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), an inflammation-spurring protein. When IL-1β was genetically deleted in mice, calcification and valve symptoms were significantly reduced even in the presence of P. gingivalis.
“The key message is simple: take good care of your oral health,” Li said. “Good oral hygiene and treatment of periodontal disease are important for overall health and may also have benefits for cardiovascular health.” Eduardo Sanchez, M.D., M.P.H., FAHA, chief medical officer for prevention for the American Heart Association, added, “This study adds to the growing evidence that oral health and heart health are closely connected.”
The American Heart Association’s Healthy Smiles, Healthy Hearts™ initiative provides dental care teams with professional education highlighting the connection between oral health and heart health. The study has limitations as its findings have not been confirmed in people, and the researchers have started a clinical study to further evaluate the link between gum disease and CAVS.
