Clean teeth 'reduce heart risk'
Baku, January 8 (AZERTAC). “Brushing your teeth twice a day could save you from a heart attack”, the Daily Mail reported.
This news story is based on a study of how often people brushed their teeth and their risk of cardiovascular disease. People who never or rarely brushed their teeth were 70% more likely to develop cardiovascular disease than those who brushed twice a day. People with poor oral hygiene also had higher blood levels of a specific chemical marker of inflammation thought to increase risk.
This study did not establish a cause-and-effect relationship between oral health and cardiovascular disease. It is possible that people who brushed their teeth more may simply have lived healthier lives.
However, these findings are in line with other research suggesting a link between gum disease, inflammation and cardiovascular disease. While not proof of a causal relationship, this study does add further weight to the suggestion that brushing may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Researchers combined data from three of the Scottish surveys undertaken between 1995 and 2003, involving 11,869 men and women with an average age of 50 years. Survey interviewers and nurses had visited Scottish households and collected data on demographics and lifestyle. This includes risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as smoking, physical exercise, blood pressure and medical family history. People taking part were also asked how often they visited the dentist and how often they brushed their teeth - twice, once or less than once a day.
To find out what happened to participants over time, each survey was linked to a database of hospital admissions and deaths, which was followed up until December 2007. The researchers used the database to look at the underlying causes at both the fatal and non-fatal cases of cardiovascular disease, heart attacks and admissions for bypass surgery. Blood samples were collected from 4,830 people who consented, and they were laboratory tested for two proteins called C reactive protein and fibrinogen. Both proteins are markers for inflammation.
The researchers then used established statistical techniques to analyze this body of information. They calculated the risk of heart disease and death in relation to frequency of toothbrushing, plus the association between oral hygiene and levels of inflammatory markers. Their modeling made adjustments to account for the influence of major factors that might contribute to people’s risk, such as smoking, obesity and family history. The figures were also adjusted for age, sex and socioeconomic group.
The researchers followed-up participants for an average of about eight years. Among the 11,869 people followed were 555 (4.7%) cases of cardiovascular disease, of which 170 were fatal. Most of these people were diagnosed with coronary heart disease.
It is important to remember that good oral hygiene is important to help prevent gum disease and tooth decay, regardless of its effect on cardiovascular risk. Equally, following a healthy diet and doing regular physical activity are all important, proven ways to prevent the risk of cardiovascular disease.
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