Common Mouth Bacteria May Trigger Dangerous Calcium Buildup in the Heart

A gum disease bacterium may contribute to aortic valve calcification through inflammation, according to preliminary human tissue and mouse research. A bacterium best known for damaging gums may also be involved in the hardening of the heart’s aortic valve. Preliminary research presented at the American Heart Association’s Basic Cardiovascular Sciences Scientific Sessions 2026 points to [...]

A gum disease bacterium may contribute to aortic valve calcification through inflammation, according to preliminary human tissue and mouse research. A bacterium best known for damaging gums may also be involved in the hardening of the heart’s aortic valve. Preliminary research presented at the American Heart Association’s Basic Cardiovascular Sciences Scientific Sessions 2026 points to a possible biological connection between chronic periodontal disease and a serious heart valve disorder.

The condition, called calcific aortic valve stenosis (CAVS), develops when calcium accumulates in the aortic valve, causing it to thicken and narrow. Because this valve controls blood leaving the heart, the narrowing can restrict circulation throughout the body. CAVS may cause no noticeable problems at first.

As it advances, however, patients can develop fatigue, chest pain, shortness of breath, fainting, heart failure, and premature death. Severe cases are generally treated by replacing the damaged valve because no medication has been proven to stop or slow the disease. The researchers identified a possible pathway through which long-term gum infection could contribute to valve calcification.

“There are currently no medications proven to prevent or slow the progression of CAVS. We hope our findings demonstrating the link between periodontal disease and CAVS will stimulate further research into new preventive and therapeutic approaches for this condition,” said co-lead