Professional dental cleanings may reduce risk of heart attack, stroke

Why Medicare should include dental care (which is currently does not cover)

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-11/aha-pdc110311.php

Public release date: 13-Nov-2011
Contact: AHA News Media Office
American Heart Association

Professional tooth scaling was associated with fewer heart attacks and strokes in a study (Abstract 17704) from Taiwan presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2011.

Among more than 100,000 people, those who had their teeth scraped and cleaned (tooth scaling) by a dentist or dental hygienist had a 24 percent lower risk of heart attack and 13 percent lower risk of stroke compared to those who had never had a dental cleaning. The participants were followed for an average of seven years.

Scientists considered tooth scaling frequent if it occurred at least twice or more in two years; occasional tooth scaling was once or less in two years.

[...]

"Protection from heart disease and stroke was more pronounced in participants who got tooth scaling at least once a year," said Emily (Zu-Yin) Chen, M.D., cardiology fellow at the Veterans General Hospital in Taipei, Taiwan.

Professional tooth scaling appears to reduce inflammation-causing bacterial growth that can lead to heart disease or stroke, she said.

[...]

Anders Holmlund, D.D.S., Ph.D. Centre for Research and Development of the County Council of Gävleborg, Sweden, and senior consultant; Specialized Dentistry, studied 7,999 participants with periodontal disease and found people with:

Fewer than 21 teeth had a 69 percent increased risk of heart attack compared to those with the most teeth.
A higher number of deepened periodontal pockets (infection of the gum around the base of the tooth) had a 53 percent increased risk of heart attack compared to those with the fewest pockets.
The least amount of teeth had a 2.5 increased risk of congestive heart failure compared to those with the most teeth.
The highest incidence of gum bleeding had a 2.1 increased risk of stroke compared to those with the lowest incidence.

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