Brush twice a day for a healthy heart

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Brush twice a day for a healthy heart Clean teeth and fresh breath aren’t the only reasons to brush your teeth twice a day—a new study confirms that lowering your risk of heart disease is an added perk. According to a nationally-representative study in Scotland published in the British Medical Journal, people who have poor oral hygiene have an increased risk of heart disease compared to those who brush their teeth twice a day. Researchers from the University College London analyzed behaviors such as smoking, physical activities, and dental health routines of 11,869 adults. They also gathered data about their medical and family history. Participants who brushed their teeth less than once a day had 70 percent increased risk of heart disease compared with participants who reported brushing twice a day. And those that brushed once a day had a 30 percent increased risk of heart disease over participants who brushed twice per day. Previous studies have linked poor oral hygiene to heart disease and other illnesses, including pneumonia and diabetes. Researchers suggest that bacteria and inflammatory agents spillover from the mouth into the bloodstream, which can carry them around to the rest of the body. As for the heart disease connection, oral bacteria can lead to periodontal disease, a common chronic inflammatory condition, and inflammation plays an important role in the build up of clogged arteries. Keep your mouth healthy and lower your heart disease risk by brushing your teeth twice a day (for two minutes each time) and flossing at least once a day. Eat a diet high in calcium and vitamins C and D, and try to cut down on sugary foods. See your dentist twice yearly for checkups. If you smoke or have periodontal disease or diabetes, talk to your dentist—you may need cleaning and checkups every three to four months. —Ginger Skinner How many times a day do you brush? For more on keeping your teeth healthy, take a look at our tips for cleaner teeth and check out our latest electric toothbrush report and Ratings (subscribers only).

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Submitted @ 2010-06-03