According to the work, published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, brushing our teeth three times each day reduces harmful bacteria in the mouth, which, in turn, can reduce the risk of heart failure.
Previous studies have already suggested that poor oral hygiene leads to bacteria in the blood, causing inflammation in the body. Inflammation increases the risks of atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat) and heart failure (the heart’s ability to pump blood or relax and fill with blood is impaired).
The intention of this study was to examine the connection between oral hygiene and the occurrence of these two conditions associated with heart health.
The National Institutes of Health recommends brushing your teeth at least twice a day for healthy teeth and gums, but researchers have found that three times a day provides the biggest boost to your heart health.
The retrospective cohort study examined a total of 161,286 people between the ages of 40 and 79 within the South Korean national health insurance system. None of the participants had a history of atrial fibrillation (abnormally fast or irregular heartbeat) or heart failure.
The participants underwent a routine medical examination between 2003 and 2004 . They collected information on height, weight, laboratory tests, diseases, lifestyle, oral health, and oral hygiene behaviors.
At the time of follow-up, ten years later, about 5% had developed heart failure and 3% had developed atrial fibrillation.
The researchers found that brushing three or more times a day was associated with a 10% lower risk of atrial fibrillation and a 12% lower risk of heart failure during the 10.5-year follow-up. These results were maintained after eliminating confounding factors such as age, gender, socioeconomic status, regular exercise, alcohol consumption, body mass index, and comorbidities such as hypertension.
Scientists believe these results are because frequent brushing likely reduces bacteria that live between the teeth and gums in the subgingival biofilm, thus preventing them from entering the bloodstream.
Of course, the authors clarify that it is important to note that the analysis was limited to one country and, as an observational study, it does not prove causation, but “we studied a large group over a long period, which adds strength to our findings” explains Tae-Jin Song, from Ewha Womans University, Seoul (Korea), as the study leader.
Other studies have shown that poor oral hygiene leads to bacteria in the blood, causing inflammation in the body.
“It is certainly too early to recommend tooth brushing for the prevention of atrial fibrillation and congestive heart failure,” the authors continue. “Although the role of inflammation in the development of cardiovascular disease is increasingly evident, intervention studies are needed to define strategies of importance for public health .”
Referencia: Chang Y, Woo HG, Park J, et al. Improved oral hygiene care is associated with decreased risk of occurrence for atrial fibrillation and heart failure: A nationwide population-based cohort study. Eur J Prev Cardiol. 2019. doi:10.1177/2047487319886018.
