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Medical Brushing teeth, AF & Heart Failure
2021.08.05 14:08
NEWS RELEASE 2-DEC-2019
Brush your teeth to protect the heart
EUROPEAN SOCIETY OF CARDIOLOGY
Sophia Antipolis, 2 December 2019: Brushing teeth frequently is linked with lower risks of atrial fibrillation and heart failure, according to a study published today in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, a journal of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).1
Previous research suggests 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). This study examined the connection between oral hygiene and occurrence of these two conditions.
The retrospective cohort study enrolled 161,286 participants of the Korean National Health Insurance System aged 40 to 79 with no history of atrial fibrillation or heart failure. Participants underwent a routine medical examination between 2003 and 2004. Information was collected on height, weight, laboratory tests, illnesses, lifestyle, oral health, and oral hygiene behaviours.
During a median follow-up of 10.5 years, 4,911 (3.0%) participants developed atrial fibrillation and 7,971 (4.9%) developed heart failure.
Tooth 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 10.5-year follow up. The findings were independent of a number of factors including age, sex, socioeconomic status, regular exercise, alcohol consumption, body mass index, and comorbidities such as hypertension.
While the study did not investigate mechanisms, one possibility is that frequent tooth brushing reduces bacteria in the subgingival biofilm (bacteria living in the pocket between the teeth and gums), thereby preventing translocation to the bloodstream.
Senior author Dr. Tae-Jin Song of Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Korea noted that the analysis was limited to one country and as an observational study does not prove causation. But he added: "We studied a large group over a long period, which adds strength to our findings."
An accompanying editorial states: "It is certainly too early to recommend tooth brushing for the prevention of atrial fibrillation and congestive heart failure". It adds: "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."2
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Authors: ESC Press Office
Funding: This project was supported by a grant (2018R1D1A1B07040959) from the Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea funded by the Ministry of Education.
Comment 2
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This study reminds me of Burger's disease which has been suspected for possible relationship with the poor oral hygiene and Prof Iwai of Japan devoted his time to prove. Indeed, there is a strong evidence between these two conditions, belatedly confirmed.
As a matter of fact, such poor oral hygiene becomes the harbinger of various bacteria so that one of a few essential evaluations on the transplant candidates is a thorough evaluation of the oral hygiene and get rid of the source of infection ahead of time to become a major risk under the immunosuppressed condition later. Indeed a minor infection could tip the balance to provoke the rejection we infrequently encounter.
BB Lee
This study is from South Korea.
suppose it wouldn't hurt to brush your teeth
more than three times a day if you could.
It is an interesting study and proposition.