If you believe that poor dental hygiene is confined to your mouth, think again.
A US study published in Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism, has found that oral infections that ruin teeth are linked to an increased risk of heart disease. After a review of the current literature, researchers found that a person with inflammation-causing oral diseases, such as gingivitis and periodontitis, has a greater risk of stroke and cardiovascular disease.
Thomas Van Dyke of the Forsyth Institute says it’s important that we pay attention to these findings. “Given the high prevalence of oral infections, any risk they contribute to future cardiovascular disease is important to public health.
“Periodontitis is not just a dental disease, and it should not be ignored, as it is a modifiable risk factor,” he says.
“The majority of diseases and conditions of ageing, including obesity and type-2 diabetes, have a major inflammatory component that can be made worse by the presence of periodontitis,” Van Dyke says. “Periodontitis is not just a dental disease, and it should not be ignored, as it is a modifiable risk factor,” says Mr Van Dyke.
However, it was also discovered that taking high doses of atorvastatin, a commonly prescribed cholesterol-lowering medicine, prevents both periodontal and cardiovascular inflammation, along with reversing existing disease.
Read more at businessinsider.com.au
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