Is there any correlation between tooth decay and heart problems or nervous disorders?

I have heard that a rotten tooth or rotting tooth can cause certain other physical problems. Are they detectable through blood tests and what would you look for? I have heard of a gentleman who had several rotting wisdom teeth whose blood pressure went up and he had no indication of high white blood cell count on a blood test indicating that he was fighting an infection. Is there a correlation? I'm stumped.

There is ONLY a link between tooth decay and heart problems if someone already has problems with the valves in their heart. If your heart is healthy then tooth decay will NOT cause heart problems.

As for this gentleman you mentioned, the fact that his white cells weren't raised on blood test suggests that the infection was localised and contained in the teeth and had not progressed enough to enter the blood stream. As for his blood pressure increasing, well that could be entirely coincidental, or it could be a natural physiological response to the pain he was doubtless having from his teeth.

Yes! I had an RN friend who used to work in ICU. She said there were so many heart patients there because of tooth abscesses and gum infections! The heart is closest to our mouths, and the infection has a very short way to travel.

In her opinion, if people would take care of their teeth, there wold be much fewer cardiac problems!

Absolutely. The two main kinds of bacteria that cause tooth decay can wreak havoc on your heart. That is why heart patients are given antibiotics prior to any dental work, including routine cleanings.