Frequent Tooth Brushing Linked With Lower Risk of Afib, Heart Failure

[CDreamer]

medscape.com/viewarticle/92...

Sorry it’s a Medscape article so you will need to sign in to read but it’s free.

[Padayn01]

How you been after the episode of AF last week?

[CDreamer in reply to Padayn01]

I’m fine - the chest infection is clearing slowly - still having mild AF but feeling much better today, thanks for asking.

[Padayn01 in reply to CDreamer]

Good to hear your ok 👍🏼

[Hidden]

Very interesting, had numerous tooth and gum infections over the years which I am now addressing at great cost, would not be in the least bit surprised if there is a link, now brush floss etc 3 times a day made a big difference from doing it just morning and night ! I think once gum issues set in you have to be pretty rigorous to keep it at bay !

Andy

[CDreamer in reply to Hidden]

I had the same about 15 years ago and my then consultant dentist told me of the link between gum disease and heart disease in general. The treatment for gum disease was very expensive and root canal work done way back in the 1970’s failed so I had to have an implant - I couldn’t believe how much that was! I still have the very odd minor problem but the treatments have now improved. My now dentist introduced me to something called Blue’m Gel which seems very effective. I’ve only just found this site because when she looked up the prices it was over £100 for 3 small tubes so she bought some wholesale and I just paid cost price but the costs from here are much less. It’s the best product I’ve come across.

bluemshop.co.uk/oral-problems/

[Hidden in reply to CDreamer]

Know what you mean just in the process of having 2 implants, ironically my teeth look great but the underlying structures are the issue, will check out the link, all the best

Andy

[bennie06]

Text below

Reuters Health) - People who brush their teeth three times a day are less likely to develop atrial fibrillation or heart failure than those with less consistent oral hygiene habits, a Korean study suggests.

Researchers examined data on 161,286 people with national health coverage and no history of atrial fibrillation, heart failure or other cardiovascular diseases. After a median follow-up of close to 10.5 years, 4,911 people (3%) developed atrial fibrillation and 7,971 (4.9%) developed heart failure.

Individuals who brushed their teeth three times a day were 10% less likely to develop atrial fibrillation and 12% less likely to develop heart failure than those who brushed less frequently, the study found.

Getting regular professional dental cleanings was also tied to a 7% lower risk of heart failure, while having 22 or more missing teeth was linked to a 32% higher heart failure risk.

"Healthier oral hygiene by frequent tooth brushing and professional dental cleaning may reduce risk of atrial fibrillation and heart failure," senior study author Dr. Tae-Jin Song, of Ewha Womans University College of Medicine in Seoul, and colleagues write in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology.

Some previous research suggests that poor oral hygiene may cause bacteria to seep into the bloodstream, provoking inflammation throughout the body, the study team writes.

It's possible that frequent tooth brushing reduces bacteria in the subgingival biofilm, the study team writes. This might reduce the amount of bacteria entering the bloodstream.

In the current study, participants had at least one routine medical exam between 2003 and 2004. Among other things, researchers gathered data on height, weight, lifestyle habits, any chronic medical issues, and oral health and hygiene habits.

The connection between tooth brushing and atrial fibrillation and heart failure persisted even after researchers accounted for age, sex, socioeconomic status, exercise habits, alcohol consumption, obesity and high blood pressure.

The study wasn't designed to prove whether or how oral health or tooth brushing habits might directly impact heart health. And results in the Korean population might not represent what would occur in other countries or racial and ethnic groups, the study team notes.

Researchers also lacked lab studies to confirm the diagnoses of atrial fibrillation or heart failure, and they didn't dental X-rays to confirm periodontal disease.

Even so, the results add to evidence linking poor oral hygiene to cardiovascular diseases, Dr. Pascal Meyre of University Hospital Basel in Switzerland and Dr. David Conen of McMaster University in Canada write in an editorial.

"It is certainly too early to recommend tooth brushing for the prevention of atrial fibrillation and congestive heart failure," Meyre and Conen write. "While the role of inflammation in the occurrence of cardiovascular disease is becoming more and more evident, intervention studies are needed to define strategies of public health importance."

SOURCE: bit.ly/2LsuskM and bit.ly/38e0RW7 European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, online December 1, 2019.

[Desanthony]

As always there will be exceptions to the rule as I brush my teeth after every meal - maybe too frequent then?