A heart attack is a serious medical condition which happens the blood supply to part of the heart gets blocked. The heart muscle then becomes damaged because of lack of oxygen. The medical name for a heart attack is myocardial infarction. The sooner you get treatment for a heart attack, the better your chances of reducing the life-threatening condition. A study has suggested a simple activity could help reduce the risk and maintain healthiness.
Brushing your teeth twice a day for at least two minutes may lower the risk of cardiovascular disease, a study suggests.
The study looked at how often people brush their teeth and their risk of cardiovascular disease. People who never or rarely brushed their teeth were 70 per cent more likely to develop cardiovascular disease.
The NHS said: “People with poor hygiene also had higher blood levels of specific chemical marker of inflammation thought to increase risk.”
Previous studies have found a link between heart disease and periodontal disease, a condition marked by gum infection, gum inflammation and tooth damage.
Researchers asked 682 people about their tooth-brushing behaviour.
After adjusting for various factors, they found that those who said they brushed their teeth less than twice a day for less than two minutes had a three-fold increased risk compared to those who said they brushed at least twice a day for at least two minutes.
The study did not establish a cause-and-effect relationship between oral health and cardiovascular disease.
Doctor Shogo Matsui, the study’s lead researcher said: “Poor oral health, based on daily teeth-brushing behaviour, is associated with poorer heart health.
It’s possible that longer tooth brushing might reduce this risk.”
A separate study published in the AHA journal, Hypertension, found that gum disease appears to worsen blood pressure and interferes with medications to treat hypertension.
Doctor Ann Bolger, a cardiologist and professor of medicine at the University of California said: “I spend an inordinate amount of time talking to heart patients about their teeth because we know certain heart valve infections can be associated with poor oral health.
This research is a good reminder that the mouth is an important part of a person’s entire health and simple, daily behaviours that improve health are incredibly important.”
The researchers concluded that poor oral hygiene was associated with a higher risk level of cardiovascular disease, and also with low-grade inflammation.
The results confirm previous finding which have found a link between gum disease and cardiovascular disease.
It’s a low risk, low-cost option that we know has other benefits even beyond the scope of what this study is trying to investigate
Doctor Ann Bolger, a cardiologist and professor of medicine at the University of California
Gum disease is one of the most common oral health problems, added Carter.
The condition leads to swollen or infected gums. It’s caused by a build-up of plaque on the teeth. Plaque is a sticky substance that contains bacteria, said the NHS.
Left untreated, gum disease can lead to loss of teeth, receding gums, cardiovascular disease, and lung infections.
“It’s a low risk, low-cost option that we know has other benefits even beyond the scope of what this study is trying to investigate.
There’s no reason not to recommend,” added Doctor Bolger.
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