A new study suggests that bacteria from gum disease may contribute to the calcification of the heart's aortic valve, leading to a common and serious condition known as calcific aortic valve stenosis (CAVS). The preliminary research, presented at the American Heart Association's Basic Cardiovascular Sciences Scientific Sessions 2026 in Boston, identifies a potential biological pathway linking chronic oral infection to heart valve disease.
CAVS occurs when the aortic valve thickens and calcifies, restricting blood flow from the heart to the rest of the body. In early stages, it may be asymptomatic, but as it progresses, it can cause fatigue, chest pain, shortness of breath, fainting, heart failure, and sometimes premature death. Currently, no medication can prevent or slow its progression, and standard treatment for severe cases is valve replacement surgery.
The study, led by Chenyang Li, M.D., a Ph.D. candidate at the State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease of Fuwai Hospital in Beijing, focused on Porphyromonas gingivalis, a bacterium that plays a major role in gum inflammation and tissue destruction. This bacterium has previously been linked to systemic inflammation and cardiovascular disease, including plaque buildup in arteries and coronary artery disease.
Researchers measured bacterial levels in human cardiac valve tissue removed during valve replacement surgery, comparing samples from people with CAVS and those with other valve diseases. They found that P. gingivalis was significantly more abundant in calcified aortic valves. "We were surprised by how much P. gingivalis was present in the calcified aortic valves," Li said. "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 calcification, and symptoms of aortic stenosis. Preventive antibiotic treatment reduced these effects. The bacterium activated interleukin-1 beta (IL-1b), an inflammation-spurring protein. When IL-1b 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 education and resources to highlight this connection.
The findings are preliminary and have not been confirmed in humans. The researchers have started a clinical study to further evaluate the link between gum disease and CAVS. The study was presented as an abstract at the American Heart Association's Basic Cardiovascular Sciences Scientific Sessions 2026, and the findings are considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.
