Japanese study links nightly brushing to reduced cardiovascular risk
A Japanese study has linked nightly brushing to a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease.
Researchers analysed data collected from patients who attended Osaka University Hospital during a three-year period between 2013 and 2016. They found that people who brushed their teeth every night were less likely to develop cardiovascular complications than those who brushed once a day in the morning and people who didn’t brush at all.
Participants were divided into four groups by the research team. Group MN brushed twice a day, including once after waking and once before going to bed. Group Night brushed once per day at night. Group M brushed once a day in the morning and Group None didn’t brush at all.
Researchers analysed several risk factors for cardiovascular disease, including age, gender and smoking history. They investigated a diverse range of cardiovascular events, including heart failure, arrythmia, angina, myocardial infarction (heart attack) and diseases that required surgery.
The team analysed and evaluated dental health, investigating oral health history, frequency of teeth cleaning prior to attending hospital, depth of periodontal pockets, tooth mobility and natural tooth count.
Blood tests confirmed that all groups had similar levels of C-reactive protein, haemoglobin, creatinine, HbA1c levels and albumin on admission. There were noticeable differences in levels of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP). Smoking statuses were similar across the groups, but there were variations in dental metrics, including tooth mobility and the depth of periodontal pockets.
The research team found that survival rates were significantly higher in Groups MN and Night compared to Group None and Group M. The study underlines the importance of daily brushing and the benefits of cleaning the teeth at night. Researchers believe that oral bacteria levels peak at night due to a lack of saliva.
For more news click here.
Join this Discussion