Brush Teeth to Prevent Heart Disease

In that previous research has linked gum disease with heart problems, Richard Watt, from University College London (United Kingdom), and colleagues studied wither toothbrushing behavior is associated with cardiovascular disease and markers of inflammation.  The team analyzed data collected on 11,869 men and women, mean age 50 years, enrolled in the Scottish Health Survey.  Over the eight-year long study period, the subjects self-reported their frequency of daily toothbrushing, while the researchers assessed hospital records to estimate the risk of cardiovascular disease events or death according to oral hygiene.  Accounting for factors that contribute to heart disease risk, the team found that those subjects with the worst oral hygiene were at 70% increased risk of developing heart disease, as compared to those who brushed their teeth twice a day.  In addition, the subjects with poor oral hygiene tested positive for increased levels of blood markers of inflammation, namely C-reactive protein and fibrinogen.