Good Dental Hygiene Lowers Risk of Cardiovascular Diseases
Researchers in Taiwan claim that good dental hygiene could lower the risk of cardiovascular diseases significantly.
A study, which involved more than 100,000 people and ran over the course of seven years, concluded that people who take good care of their teeth and gums are less likely to suffer from heart attacks and strokes. Researchers found that individuals who had their teeth cleaned professionally at least once a year had a lower risk of suffering from potentially life-threatening cardiovascular conditions.
The findings of the study were presented at the American Heart Association’s Sessions in 2011 and revealed that people who had their teeth professionally cleaned had a 13% lower risk of having a stroke and a 24% lower risk of suffering a heart attack than those who never had their teeth scaled.
Emily Chen, a cardiology fellow at the Veterans General Hospital in Taipei, said that the findings of the study suggest that professional cleaning treatments help to reduce the risk of strokes and heart attacks as a result of a decrease in harmful bacteria, which can trigger an inflammatory response.
Another study carried out in Sweden suggested that gum disease was another risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. The study, which was overseen by Dr Holmlund, from the Centre for Research and Development of the County Council of Gavleborg, concluded that people who have periodontal disease and those that have lost a number of teeth are more likely to suffer strokes and heart attacks.
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