Toothbrushing linked to cardio-vascular disease prevention

ENCOURAGING good oral hygiene may have the added benefit of reducing the risk of death from cardiovascular disease. Evidence shows those who rarely brush their teeth have a 70% increased risk of a cardiovascular event.

A study of dental habits among nearly 12,000 people in Scotland showed those who reported brushing their teeth less than once a day were more likely to die from cardiovascular disease than those who brushed twice a day.

This was after adjusting for risk factors such as BMI, smoking, dental visits, hypertension and family history.

While the mechanisms remained unclear, the researchers found a significant association between toothbrushing frequency and markers of systemic inflammation such as C-reactive protein and fibrinogen.

BMJ 2010, in press