You must brush your teeth twice a day to avoid high risks of heart disease.

Dentist Abroad Health News.

Failure to brush one’s teeth twice a day will result in poor oral hygiene, which could lead to a 70% risk  of  cardiovascular (heart) disease, according to the findings of a Report  published in the British Medical Journal.

Researchers led by Cesar de Oliveira, a research fellow in epidemiology and public health at University College London, have carried out an fifteen year study of oral hygiene habits and coronary disease in 11,869 adults aged 35 and older (with a mean age of 50) from the Scottish Health Survey.

This Survey was conducted once every three to five years between 1995 and 2003 ,and was followed up with the survey subjects after an average of eight years to see if they had had a heart attack or coronary disease

The conclusion of the researchers is that tooth brushing is associated with heart disease.

In reaching this conclusion the researchers took into account that those who reported brushing their teeth less than twice a day were more likely to be male, and/or older, and/or smokers and to have other health issues such as diabetes, hypertension and obesity.

The researchers believe that chronic inflammation (and how the body reacts to it) could well be the possible  cause of the relationship between  periodontal disease and heart disease .

The researchers report that ” periodontal disease is one of the most common chronic infections and is associated with a moderate systemic inflammatory response.”

This Report highlights the need to take care of one’s teeth and one’s gums, and of the need to regularly visit the dentist for check-ups. The Dentist Abroad.com recommends that check-ups should take place  once every six months.