A similar study was done previously suggested that poor oral hygiene results in the accumulation of bacteria within the blood which can cause inflammation. Inflammation increases the risks of fibrillation (irregular heartbeat) and coronary failure
The retrospective cohort study enrolled 161,286 participants of the Korean National Insurance System aged 40 to 79 with no history of fibrillation or coronary failure. Participants underwent a routine checkup between 2003 and 2004. Information was collected on height, weight, laboratory tests, illnesses, lifestyle, oral health, and oral hygiene behaviors.
During a median follow-up of 10.5 years, tooth brushing three or more times each day was related to a tenth lower risk of fibrillation and a 12% lower risk of coronary failure. The results were independent of things like age, sex, socioeconomic status, alcohol consumption, and other co-morbidities like hypertension.
While the particular mechanism of how this lowers the risks of heart-related diseases wasn’t revealed within the study, researchers say that there’s the possibility that brushing may reduce bacteria within the subgingival biofilm (bacteria living within the pocket between the teeth and gums), thereby preventing their translocation into the bloodstream.
Senior author Dr. Tae-Jin Song of Ewha Woman’s University, Seoul, Korea noted that the analysis was limited to at least one country and as an observational study doesn’t prove causation.
But he added that the study was done on an outsized number of individuals and for an extended period of time also, which successively provides strength to the findings of the study.
While recommending brushing teeth two or 3 times daily to stop any risk of heart diseases could be too early, one cannot neglect the rising concern of such diseases thanks to increased bacterial inflammation. More intervention studies are required to define how the strategies of public health should be made.
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