Healthy Gums Could Prevent Heart Attacks And Strokes
Brushing, flossing your teeth and good dental treatments could do good not only to your white pearlies but also to your heart and blood vessels. That’s according to UK and US researchers from the University College London and the University of Connecticut.
The researchers studied 120 patients with severe periodontitis (gum disease caused by bacteria) who were either given advice to treat their condition at home or received an intensive course of treatment which included clearing bacteria-filled plaque, and the extraction of teeth that were no longer safely rooted in the gum. At first, the intensive treatment resulted in inflammation of the blood vessels and arteries but after six months, those who had undergone the intensive treatment showed great improvements in their gums and their blood vessel function.
In response to this study, Professor Peter Weissberg, Medical Director, British Heart Foundation (BHF) said: “It has long been known that people with abnormal heart valves can become seriously ill if they have poor dental hygiene. Several recent studies have hinted that poor oral health may also increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.
“This important new study provides direct evidence linking an improvement in dental health with better blood vessel function. Longer term studies will help show if this also means reduced levels of heart disease for this group of patients.
“It may be that people who take care of their dental hygiene avoid more than just a toothache.”
The mechanism by which periodontitis affects endothelial function in the body is still uncertain. The gum disease involves a bacterial infection that invades the tissue around the teeth. One possibility is that the bacteria disturbs endothelial function directly, since some bacteria can enter the bloodstream. Alternatively, the periodontitis might trigger a low grade inflammatory response throughout the body that has a detrimental effect on the vascular wall.
Source: BBC News, 2 March 2007; British Heart Foundation, 2 March 2007; “Press cutting: Brushing teeth could prevent heart attacks and strokes” UCL News, 3 March 2007; Tonetti M et a “Treatment of Periodontitis and Endothelial Function” The New England Journal of Medicine (March 2007) 356:911-920
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