The bacteria in our mouths may hold the key to many facets of our health (oral hygiene and heart health).
Researchers have discovered links between mouth bacteria and the risk of pancreatic and esophageal cancers. Other studies connect poor oral hygiene to respiratory issues.
More evidence is also highlighting the connection between oral hygiene and heart health. For example, oral bacteria have been found in blood clots of stroke patients. Severe gum disease has also been linked to a higher risk of high blood pressure.
Conversely, destroying “friendly” oral bacteria that help maintain a healthy and balanced oral microbiome could disrupt blood pressure levels and also lead to hypertension.
Maintaining good oral health, therefore, seems to be key to cardiovascular health.
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Now, a new study that appears in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology suggests that regular toothbrushing may keep heart failure and atrial fibrillation (A-fib) — a type of arrhythmia — at bay.
Dr. Tae-Jin Song of Ewha Womans University in Seoul, Korea, is the senior author of the new study.
Dr. Song and his team noted that inflammation plays a key role in their study. They explained that poor oral hygiene can cause temporary bacteremia and systemic inflammation, which may trigger atrial fibrillation and heart failure.
Studying A-fib, heart failure, and oral hygiene
In their study, Dr. Song and team examined atrial fibrillation’s associations with both heart failure and poor oral hygiene. They used data from 161,286 people who were part of the Korean National Health Insurance System-Health Screening Cohort.
A-fib affects at least 2.7 million people in the United States. It causes the heart to beat irregularly, making it less effective at pumping blood to the body.
Heart failure also affects the heart’s ability to pump blood. This leads to fatigue and, in some cases, breathing problems due to reduced oxygen reaching vital organs.
This study focused on the link between oral hygiene and heart health. It involved 161,286 participants aged 40 to 79 who had no history of A-fib or heart failure. During enrollment (2003–2004), researchers recorded each person’s height and weight. They also collected data on lifestyle, oral health, and oral hygiene habits.
The participants also underwent some laboratory tests, which included blood tests, urine tests, and blood pressure readings.
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Brushing lowers heart failure risk by 12%
Over a median follow-up period of 10.5 years, 4,911 participants received a diagnosis of A-fib, and 7,971 developed heart failure.
Brushing the teeth three times or more a day was linked with a 10% lower chance of developing A-fib and a 12% lower risk of heart failure.
Confounding factors — including age, sex, socioeconomic status, physical activity, alcohol intake, body mass index, and other coexisting conditions, such as hypertension — did not influence these results, as the researchers accounted for them in their analysis.
The authors conclude:
Improved oral hygiene care was associated with decreased risk of atrial fibrillation and heart failure. Healthier oral hygiene by frequent toothbrushing and professional dental cleanings may reduce risk of atrial fibrillation and heart failure.
