People who fail to brush their teeth increase their risk of developing heart disease, researchers warned today.
The risk of disease is increased by as much as 70 per cent in people who do not manage to get a brush around the mouth twice a day, according to an analysis in Scotland, UK.
Bad hygiene in the mouth leads to gum disease and infection – and experts have long believed this may cause effects throughout the body.
But, according to some experts, the link may not be clear because people who do not brush their teeth and develop gum disease may have generally unhealthy lifestyles – smoking and drinking excessively.
Researchers from University College, London, UK, studied more than 11,000 Scottish adults. More than 70 per cent claimed to brush their teeth twice a day.
They said the findings, reported on-line by the British Medical Journal, showed evidence of inflammation throughout the body linked to poor oral hygiene.
Researcher Professor Richard Watt said: "Our results confirmed and further strengthened the suggested association between oral hygiene and the risk of cardiovascular disease – furthermore inflammatory markers were significantly associated with a very simple measure of poor oral health behaviour."
But Judy O’Sullivan, a nurse specialist with the British Heart Foundation, said: "If you don’t brush your teeth, your mouth can become infected with bacteria which can cause inflammation. It is already known that there is a link between inflammation and a higher risk of developing heart disease.
"However, it is complicated by the fact that poor oral hygiene is often associated with other well known risk factors for heart disease, such as smoking and poor diet.
"Good personal hygiene is a basic element of a healthy lifestyle. But if you want to help your heart, you should eat a balanced diet, avoid smoking and take part in regular physical activity."
British Medical Journal on-line May 28 2010
Leave a Reply