Sunday, June 13, 2010

Frequency of Toothbrushing and Heart Disease


Summary
lf you re not brushing your teeth twice a day you could be risking more than your oral health Find out what a
new study shows about toothbrushing frequency and the risk of serious disease.
Do you brush your teeth twice a day? lf not you could be at higher rsk for heart disease According to a new study toothbrushing affects not only the health of your
mouth and gums but also your heart!


Toothbrushing Frequency and Heart Disease

Researchers looked at the toothbrushing frequency, health habits, and dental habits of
11,000 adults as part of the Scottish Health Survey and compared it to their medical
history. ln addition, samples of blood were drawn to check levels of C-reactive protein
and fibrinogen - as markers for an increased risk of heart disease. These two proteins
are thought to be predictors of future heart disease risk

What did they Fnd?

Adults who brushed their teeth less than twice a day had a higher
risk of heart disease compared to those who followed mom's advice and did it twice a
day. Those who brushed less than once a day had an even higher risk. ln fact, not
brushing twice a day raised the risk of heart disease by a whopping seventy percent.
Not practicing good oral hygiene was also associated with higher blood levels of
C-reactive protein and fibrinogen - other possible indicators of a higher risk for heart
disease.


Tothbrushing Frequency and the Risk of Heart Disease: Why the Association?


How does the health of your mouth affect your heart? The mouth is teeming with
bacteria which stick to the teeth, forming plaque, and releasing products that cause
the gums to become inflamed. This can lead to gingivitis if the plaque isn't removed!

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