If your mother told you to brush your teeth twice a day, she was giving you great advice! If you do not brush your teeth twice a day, you have an increased risk of heart disease, according to a new University College London, UK study (published online May 27, BMJ, author is Prof Richard Watt).
While researchers had previosuly established that inflammation in the body (including mouth and gums) plays an important role in the buildup of fatty material (cholesterol) in the arteries, this is the first study to [private_membership circle]investigate whether the number of times individuals brush their teeth has any bearing on the risk of developing heart disease.
11,000 adults took part in the Scottish Health Survey, in which individuals were asked about lifestyle behaviors such as smoking, physical activity, and oral health routines. Questions asked included how often they visited the dentist and how often they brushed their teeth (twice a day, once a day, or less than once a day). Information was also collated on medical history and family history of heart disease and blood pressure.
62% of participants said they visited the dentist every six months and 71% reporting that they brushed their teeth twice a day. After adjustment for established risk factors, it was found that participants who reported less frequent toothbrushing had an increased risk of heart disease compared with people who brushed their teeth twice a day. Participants who had poor oral hygiene also had increased levels of CRP and fibrinogen levels (markers of inflammation in the body).
The authors say the study suggests” …a possible role of poor oral hygiene in the risk of cardiovascular disease via systemic inflammation. Raised inflammatory and homoeostatic responses as well as lipid metabolism disturbance caused by periodontal infection might be possible pathways underlying the observed association between periodontal disease and the increased risk for cardiovascular disease.” (They note that further studies are needed to confirm whether the observed association between oral health behavior and cardiovascular disease is in fact causal or merely a risk marker.)
That’s a mouthful! Bottomline, brush your teeth at least twice a day…and don’t forget to floss!
Tip from Ellen:
No one I know likes to floss…but if you find flossing difficult, as I do, because you have a small mouth…or you just have trouble getting the floss between your teeth, I found a great tool; the Oral-B Hummingbird . It’s basically a handle for your floss. The floss is held at the top in what looks like a little plastic slingshot. No more having to wrap the floss around your hand and fingers. I hated that! Now I don’t mind flossing! (No, I do not have stock in Oral-B, I just love tools that make “self-care” easier and therefore more likley to happen and continue to happen…)
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Ellen Shuman is a Life Coach who specializes in emotional and binge eating issues. She is the founder of A Weigh Out & Acoria Eating Disorder Treatment, Vice President of the Binge Eating Disorder Association (BEDA), and Co-Chair of the Academy for Eating Disorders Special Interest Group on “Health at Every Size”, ellen@aweighout.com
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