Since I was at the Dentist yesterday to have some cavities filled this article caught my attention. After working as a dental assistant for several years my family probably got tired of "dental preaching" from me. (I know that's a fact!) So I'll hope they take a look at the article. :-) Funny thing is, I seem to be the one in the dentist chair the most!
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Young adults who lose their teeth to cavities or gum disease may have an increased risk of dying from heart disease later in life, a new study suggests.
The findings, reported in the journal Heart, add to evidence linking oral health to heart health. A number of studies have suggested that gum disease may contribute to heart disease over time -- though it's still not clear that there is a cause-and-effect relationship.
This latest study involved more than 12,000 UK adults who were followed from college onward, for up to 57 years. Researchers found that those with a large number of missing teeth in young adulthood -- nine or more -- were one-third more likely to die of heart disease than their peers with fewer than five missing teeth.
The link remained when the researchers considered factors such as socioeconomic background and smoking, which harms both the teeth and gums and the heart.
Tooth loss is an indicator of poor oral health. Scientists speculate that the bacteria in the mouth that cause cavities and gum disease may enter the bloodstream and either damage the blood vessel lining directly or trigger inflammation in the body that then contributes to heart disease.
Read the rest of the article.
