According to a new research by University College London, published in the BMJ, people who brushed their twice a day had a lower risk of heart disease compared with those with less frequent toothbrushing.
The researchers analysed data from more than 11,000 adults who took part in the Scottish Health Survey between 1995 and 2003. Each survey was linked to hospital admissions and deaths, followed up until 2007. They found that people who rarely brushed their teeth had a 70% greater risk of cardiovascular disease than those who brushed their teeth twice a day. However they said that the study did not prove a cause and effect association between oral health and cardiovascular disease.
Previous studies have established a link between gum disease and cardiovascular risk, but the researchers said this is the first study to show an association between self-reported toothbrushing and incident cardiovascular disease and suggest "a possible role of poor oral hygiene in the risk of cardiovascular disease via systemic inflammation." They noted that further studies are needed to confirm whether the observed association is causal or merely a risk marker.
Source: Toothbrushing, inflammation, and risk of cardiovascular disease: results from Scottish Health Survey. BMJ 2010;340:c2451
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