Oral Health Charity Warn About Dental Infections Following Heart Disease Study
One of the world’s leading dental charities, the Oral Health Foundation, has issued a warning over the importance of treating dental infections after a study revealed a significant link between untreated oral infections and heart disease.
Speaking about the findings of the study, which have been published in the Journal of Dental Research, Dr Nigel Carter OBE, chief executive of the charity, said that the importance of regular dental visits shouldn’t be underestimated. Dr Carter said that the Oral Health Foundation was keen to encourage patients to attend routine dental checks, not solely for their dental health, but also for their general health. Cardiovascular disease accounts for around 30 percent of deaths globally, and this new study suggests that an untreated dental infection can increase the risk of heart disease by almost three times.
Researchers from Sweden, the USA, Finland and Chile worked collaboratively to analyse the relationship between dental infections and cardiovascular complications. They found that people who had untreated oral infections were 2.7 times more likely to develop heart disease than those who had received treatment for dental illnesses.
Commenting on the findings of the study, Dr Carter said that this is yet another project that links poor oral health to an elevated risk of heart disease. In addition to regular dental appointments, Dr Carter also recommended a healthy diet, good oral hygiene and vigilance when it comes to possible signs of infection. If you experience toothache, or you have swollen, sore, or bleeding gums, don’t wait to see the dentist.
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