According to preliminary independent research presented at the American Heart Association’s 2026 scientific session on fundamental cardiovascular sciences, held in Boston from July 13 to 16, 2026, bacteria that cause gum disease may contribute to calcium buildup in the heart’s aortic valve, leading to a common and serious heart valve disorder.
Calcific aortic valve stenosis (CAVS) occurs when the aortic valve thickens and becomes calcified, restricting blood flow from the heart to the rest of the body. In its early stages, symptoms may be absent. However, as the disease progresses, fatigue, chest pain, shortness of breath, fainting, heart failure, and sometimes premature death can occur. The standard treatment for severe CAVS is valve replacement surgery.
This study identifies a potential biological mechanism linking chronic gum disease and oral infections to calcific aortic valve stenosis.
“Currently, no medications have been proven effective in preventing or slowing the progression of CAVS. We hope our findings, demonstrating a connection between periodontitis and CAVS, will encourage further research into new preventive and therapeutic approaches for this condition,” said study co-author Chenyang Li from the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College.
The researchers focused on the bacterium Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis), which plays a disproportionately large role in triggering gum inflammation and destroying gum tissue. Previously, P. gingivalis has also been linked to systemic inflammation and the risk of cardiovascular diseases, including plaque buildup in arteries and coronary heart disease.
The researchers measured varying levels of bacteria in human heart valve tissues removed during valve replacement surgery. They examined samples from individuals with CAVS and from those with other valve diseases.
“We were surprised by the amount of P. gingivalis found in calcified aortic valves,” said Li. “While it wasn’t one of the most abundant bacteria overall, it showed one of the largest differences between valves with calcific aortic stenosis and those without. This unexpected finding prompted us to investigate its potential role in the development of calcific aortic stenosis.”
Using mice, the researchers also studied the link between P. gingivalis and the development of CAVS. The researchers administered live and heat-inactivated P. gingivalis bacteria to mice to determine whether the bacteria accumulate in the aortic valve, cause increased calcification, and lead to symptoms of aortic stenosis. Some mice were given antibiotics, while in others, the inflammatory pathway IL-1β was genetically disabled or removed.
The researchers found that repeated exposure to live P. gingivalis bacteria in mice led to bacterial accumulation in the aortic valves, increased valve calcification, and symptoms of aortic stenosis, whereas preventive antibiotic treatment reduced these effects. In mouse valve cells, P. gingivalis activated interleukin-1 beta (IL-1b), a protein that stimulates inflammation and is primarily produced by the body’s immune cells.
In further investigations, when scientists genetically removed the IL-1b gene in mice, calcification and symptoms of valve damage were significantly reduced even in the presence of P. gingivalis.
“The key message is simple: take good care of your oral health,” says Li. “Proper oral hygiene and treatment of periodontitis are important for overall health and may also have positive effects on the cardiovascular system. Although it’s too early to recommend specific treatments to prevent CAVS, our findings suggest that periodontal health could be an important piece of this puzzle.”
“This study adds to the growing body of evidence showing a strong connection between oral health and heart health,” said Eduardo Sanchez from the American Heart Association. “For many people, regular dental visits are their only link to the healthcare system. Therefore, dentists are important partners in identifying diseases, including periodontitis, early on, which can lead to faster referrals to specialists and improved outcomes, better health, and saved lives.”
This study has limitations because its results have not been confirmed in humans. The researchers have initiated a clinical trial to further evaluate the link between gum disease and CAVS.
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