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 Researchers examined data on 161,286 people with national health
coverage and no history of atrial fibrillation, heart failure or
other cardiovascular diseases. After following at least half for
about 10.5 years, a total of 4,911 people, or 3% of the study
population, developed atrial fibrillation and 7,971 people, or 4.9%,
developed heart failure.
Individuals who brushed their teeth three times a day were 10% less
likely to develop atrial fibrillation and 12% less likely to develop
heart failure compared to those who brushed less frequently, the
study found.
Getting regular professional dental cleanings was also tied to a 7%
lower risk of heart failure while having 22 or more missing teeth
was linked to a 32% higher heart failure risk.
"Healthier oral hygiene by frequent tooth brushing and professional
dental cleaning may reduce risk of atrial fibrillation and heart
failure," senior study author Dr. Tae-Jin Song of Ewha Womans
University College of Medicine in Seoul and colleagues write in the
European Journal of Preventive Cardiology.
In atrial fibrillation, electrical impulses in the upper chambers of
the heart are chaotic, causing that part of the heart muscle to
quiver rather than contracting normally. As a result, blood doesn't
move as well to the heart's lower chambers. This can lead to the
formation of clots that can cause a stroke.
Heart failure happens when the heart muscle is too weak to pump
enough blood through the body. Symptoms can include fatigue, weight
gain from fluid retention, shortness of breath and coughing or
wheezing.
Some previous research suggests that poor oral hygiene may cause
bacteria to seep into the bloodstream, provoking inflammation
throughout the body, the study team writes. Inflammation can
increase the risk of both atrial fibrillation and heart failure,
some previous studies have also found.
It's possible that frequent tooth brushing reduces bacteria in the
so-called subgingival biofilm, the pocket between the teeth and
gums, the study team writes. This might help prevent bacteria from
entering the bloodstream.
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In the current study, participants had at least one routine medical
exam between 2003 and 2004. Among other things, researchers gathered
data on height, weight, lifestyle habits, any chronic medical
issues, and oral health and hygiene habits.
The connection between tooth brushing and atrial fibrillation and
heart failure persisted even after researchers accounted for other
factors that can influence risk for these heart problems, like age,
sex, socioeconomic status, exercise habits, alcohol consumption,
obesity and high blood pressure.
The study wasn't designed to prove whether or how oral health or
tooth brushing habits might directly impact heart health.
One limitation of the study is that the results in the Korean
population might not represent what would occur with people from
other countries or different racial and ethnic groups, the study
team notes.
Researchers also lacked lab studies to confirm whether patients had
atrial fibrillation or heart failure, and they didn't have X-rays to
determine whether participants had periodontal disease.
Even so, the results add to evidence linking poor oral hygiene to
cardiovascular diseases, Dr. Pascal Meyre of University Hospital
Basel in Switzerland and Dr. David Conen of McMaster University in
Canada write in an editorial accompanying the study.
"It is certainly too early to recommend tooth brushing for the
prevention of atrial fibrillation and congestive heart failure,"
Meyre and Conen write. "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."
SOURCE: https://bit.ly/2LsuskM and https://bit.ly/38e0RW7 European
Journal of Preventive Cardiology, online December 1, 2019.
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