Twice a day tooth-brushing reduces risk of heart disease
People who brush their teeth twice a day have a significantly lower risk of heart disease compared to individuals who have poor oral hygiene, says a research paper recently published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ).
Over the last couple of decades, there has been a growing interest in the link between heart and gum disease. While it has been agreed that inflammation in the body (including mouth and gums) plays an important role in the accumulation of clogged arteries, this is the first study to examine whether the number of times individuals brush their teeth has any impact on the risk of developing heart disease, says the researchers.
The results showed that individuals who reported less frequent tooth brushing had a 70 percent higher risk of heart disease compared to individuals who brushed their teeth twice a day, although the overall risk remained quite low. Participants who had poor oral hygiene also tested positive for inflammatory markers such as the C-reactive protein and fibrinogen.
Source: British Medical Journal (BMJ)
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