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Study shows teeth cleaning could decrease heart disease risk

11/16/11

A new study performed by researchers in Taiwan showed that regular visits to the dentist may lower the risk of heart disease.

For seven years, researchers followed more than 100,000 people without a history of heart disease in their families. They discovered that those who had their teeth cleaned and scraped by a dentist at least twice a year for two years had a 24 percent lower risk of developing some form of heart disease.

"The results are not surprising since there have been many studies showing association between inflammation and heart disease," Dr. Lawrence Phillips, assistant professor of medicine in the division of cardiology at NYU, told HealthDay. "With tooth scaling, the thought is that chronic inflammation is decreased. Good dental hygiene is recommended for all patients."

According to the findings, professional teeth cleaning reduces the amount of bacteria that causes inflammation, decreasing the chances of developing heart disease or experiencing a stroke.

The researchers from the study did not take other factors into account, such as weight, smoking and race.

In addition to heart disease, getting teeth cleaned can also decrease the chances of developing diabetes, which is also a condition that can be deadly for Americans, according to the American Dental Association. While these studies show there are simple steps people can take to decrease their risk of serious illness, there are no guarantees when it comes to health. For this reason, it's wise to explore options for life insurance. 

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