Periodontal disease is a common chronic infectious disease targeting the connective tissue supporting the dentition. In recent years, the research on periodontal disease and cerebral infarction has been increasing. However, the causal relationship between periodontal disease and cerebral infarction remains unclear. Periodontal disease may be associated with atherosclerosis, which is one of the major causes of cerebral infarction. Regular dental care can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Therefore, investigating the above association and its underlying mechanisms is of great clinical significance, which may help clinicians to make appropriate treatment and prevention measures. In this paper, the research progress and possible mechanism of the relationship between periodontal disease and cerebral infarction were reviewed.
Ischemic stroke can lead to disruption in the oral ecology and an overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria, resulting in periodontal disease. Meanwhile, the aspiration and pulmonary infection resulted from dysphagia can increase the unfavorable prognosis. Some studies have found that there exist oral bacteria in the thrombus in myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke patients, showing that oral flora might be associated with thrombus and stroke-associated pneumonia. There are few high quality clinical studies or evidence-based guidelines. Priority should be given to high quality research that provides oral care standards, and incorporating oral care into future stroke pathways to improve the prognosis.
