system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: how does poor dental health lead to heart disease?
gpt
Poor dental health results in bacteria colonising the area around the bottom of your teeth next to your gums. Friendly bacteria normally live here, however in some cases nasty bacteria (usually Group A Streptococcus/various other nasty bacteria) overpopulate the friendly bacteria and can form a local infection. Some of the bacteria growing in the local infection can get into the bloodstream through tiny capillaries next to the gums and the next stop is the heart!!!
In some cases - particularly people who already have damage to their heart valves - these bacteria can 'stick' to the valves and form a colony there. This is known as bacterial endocarditis and is a severe infection that can damage the valves in your heart permanently. That is the main risk of having bad dentition (as far as i know)