Brush Your Teeth to Prevent Heart Disease
Reported September 12, 2008
(Ivanhoe Newswire) — A nice smile isnt the only incentive to brush your teeth. Scientists say unhealthy teeth, bleeding gums and poor dental hygiene can end up causing heart disease.
The mouth is probably the dirtiest place in the human body, Dr. Steve Kerrigan from the Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin, Ireland, was quoted as saying. If you have an open blood vessel from bleeding gums, bacteria will gain entry to your bloodstream. When bacteria get into the bloodstream they encounter tiny fragments called platelets that clot blood when you get a cut. By sticking to the platelets, bacteria cause them to clot inside the blood vessel, partially blocking it. This prevents the blood flow back to the heart and we run the risk of suffering a heart attack.
Researchers say they have been investigating ways in which bacteria interact with platelets in order to develop new and improved therapies. They found that bacteria use different mechanisms to cause platelets to clump together. This blocks the bacteria from our immune system and antibiotics. They say if they can determine the site at which this happens this could lead to the development of a new drug to prevent this interaction.
Study authors conclude that it doesnt matter how fit, trim and healthy you are, if you have bleeding gums you are increasing your risk for a heart attack.
SOURCE: Study presented at the Society for General Microbiologys Autumn meeting on September 11th at Trinity College, Dublin.
