Dr. Rachaele Carver turns conventional wisdom about heart disease on its head with groundbreaking insights into how your mouth bacteria might be silently damaging your cardiovascular system. Drawing from her presentation on "Oral Pathogens as Causative Agents in Cardiovascular Disease," she reveals the missing link between oral health and the world's leading killer.

While most cardiologists focus on managing high blood pressure and cholesterol levels, Dr. Carver explains these are merely consequences—not causes—of the real problem: endothelial dysfunction. This damage to the delicate lining of blood vessels often begins with bacteria from periodontal disease entering the bloodstream, where they employ sophisticated mechanisms to evade your immune system and directly colonize arterial walls.

The research is stunning: oral bacteria are found in 48-100% of atherosclerotic plaque specimens. These bacteria release toxins that degrade collagen, increase inflammation, and even hijack your platelets to form protective shields around themselves. Most remarkably, some bacteria can force your platelets to clump together, creating the small blood clots that can eventually block blood supply to your heart or brain.

Dr. Carver challenges the traditional approach of simply "killing bad bugs" with antibiotics or scaling procedures. Instead, she advocates for addressing the environmental factors that allowed pathogenic bacteria to flourish in the first place—increasing oxygen in the oral environment, supporting mitochondrial function with red light therapy, and addressing critical nutrient deficiencies in minerals and fat-soluble vitamins.

Ready to transform your understanding of oral-systemic health? Listen now to discover simple, effective strategies to protect your heart by optimizing your oral microbiome—and learn why rising cholesterol might actually be your body's desperate attempt to repair damage caused by hidden infections, not the villain it's made out to be.

To learn more about holistic dentistry, check out Dr. Carver's website:

http://carverfamilydentistry.com

To contact Dr. Carver directly, email her at [email protected]

Want to talk with someone at Dr. Carver's office?  Call her practice: 413-663-7372

Reverse Gum Disease In 6 Weeks! With Dr. Rachaele Carver Online Course!

Learn more about here: https://reversegumdiseaseinsixweeks.info/optinpage

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. Information discussed is not intended for diagnosis, curing, or prevention of any disease and is not intended to replace advice given by a licensed healthcare practitioner. Before using any products mentioned or attempting methods discussed, please speak with a licensed healthcare provider. This podcast disclaims responsibility from any possible adverse reactions associated with products or methods discussed. Opinions from guests are their own, and this podcast does not condone or endorse opinions made by guests. We do not provide guarantees about the guests' qualifications or credibility. This podcast and its guests may have direct or indirect financial interests associated with products mentioned.