How to avoid heart disease: brush your teeth, say scientists

by JeffHuang | September 12, 2008 at 11:05 am

1653 views | 4 Recommendations | 14 comments

This is interesting. I had no idea by brushing your teeth it lowers the chances of you receiving heart diseases. I always thought brushing your teeth is for lowering the chance of you having bad breathitis. So now heres one more reason for one to brush their teeth, if that stink wasn't enough before.

Here's another reason to brush your teeth: poor dental hygiene boosts the risk of heart attacks and strokes, a pair of studies reported this week.

Heart disease is the number one killer worldwide, claiming upward of 17 million lives every year, according to the World Health Organization.

Smoking, obesity and high cholesterol are the most common culprits, but the new research shows that neglected gums can be added to the list.

"We now recognize that bacterial infections are an independent risk factor for heart diseases," said Howard Jenkins of the University of Bristol in Britain, at a meeting of the Society for General Microbiology in Dublin.

"In other words, it doesn't matter how fit, slim or healthy you are, you're adding to your chances of getting heart disease by having bad teeth," the professor said.

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stuartpilbrow

at 03:54 on September 13th, 2008

It must be noted that heart disease is only a tertiary effect of not brushing your teeth. What they say is not brushing your teeth can cause gum disease which leads to bacteria in the blood which in turn can lead to heart disease. In think that not regularly brushing your teeth alone will very rarely lead to heart problems, there would obviously be other contributing factors that would lead to that such as a poor diet and lack of exercise.
That doesn't of course mean brushing your teeth is any less important. With all nsorts of chemicals and sugars in our foods these days cleaning your teeth twice a day is more important than ever.

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bla

at 05:51 on September 13th, 2008

We tend to live in our huge kitchen so we keep our toothbrushes on the kitchen windowsill behind the sink to remind us to clean our teeth after every meal. Now I'm glad we do that especially if it means we are looking after our hearts as well as our teeth and gums!

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levelred

at 09:00 on September 13th, 2008

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mabean05

at 10:22 on September 13th, 2008

Matt, an American in the Philippines, showed a Filipino, Bryan, the importance of dental hygiene. Brush three times daily, always use mouthwash, and never forget to floss!

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Saurah Lavia

at 17:25 on September 13th, 2008

That's so strange, but good to know.
I kind of thought of the Pirates of the Carribean when I read this...

Lol, I remember my grandmother ranting about how I need to brush my teeth when I was a little kid because back when she was a child, it wasn't stressed as much as it is today--- and I shouldn't say "stressed" because that almost makes it sound bad, even though brushing your teeth becomes a routine; a chore. Nonetheless, I'm glad that doctors and occupations dealing with health issues are finding more and more out so quickly.

Thanks,

Alysha

MariettaLong

at 08:25 on September 14th, 2008

This picture is very simply saying "Brushing" is something you should love. Not only because it gives you white teeth but helps you keep your heart going. ;)

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MonroesDragonfly

at 10:43 on September 14th, 2008

The picture I posted is my youngest of 4 kids. I started them all off giving them a tooth brush in the bath to encourage the habbit. Now I even more reasons to make sure they are brushing everyday 3 times min a day.

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