Tooth brushing helps fight heart disease
4 June 2010
Encouraging good oral hygiene may have the added benefit of reducing the risk of death from cardiovascular disease (heart disease and stroke). Evidence shows those who rarely brush their teeth have a 70 per cent increased risk of a cardiovascular event.
A study of dental habits among nearly 12,000 people in Scotland showed those who reported brushing their teeth less than once a day were more likely to die from cardiovascular disease than those who brushed twice a day (BMJ 2010, in press).
This was after adjusting for risk factors such as body mass index (BMI), smoking, dental visits, high blood pressure and family history.
While the mechanisms remained unclear, the researchers found a significant association between tooth brushing frequency and markers of inflammation.
Last Reviewed: 04 June 2010
- 1. de Oliveira C, Watt R, Hamer M. Toothbrushing, inflammation, and risk of cardiovascular disease: results from Scottish Health Survey. BMJ 2010; 340: c2451. Available at: http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/340/may27_1/c2451
