Professional tooth scaling
may reduce risk of myocardial infarction and stroke
Professional tooth scaling was associated
with fewer myocardial infarctions (MI) and strokes in a study (Abstract
17704) from Taiwan presented at the American Heart Association's
Scientific Sessions 2011.
Among more than 100,000 people, those who had their teeth scraped
and cleaned (tooth scaling) by a dentist or dental hygienist had
a 24 percent lower risk of MI and 13 percent lower risk of stroke
compared to those who had never had a dental cleaning. The participants
were followed for an average of seven years.
Scientists considered tooth scaling frequent if it occurred at
least twice or more in two years; occasional tooth scaling was once
or less in two years.
The study included more than 51,000 adults who had received at
least one full or partial tooth scaling and a similar number of
people matched with gender and health conditions who had no tooth
scaling. None of the participants had a history of MI or stroke
at the beginning of the study.
The study didn't adjust for heart attack and stroke risk factors
- such as weight, smoking and race - that weren't included in the
Taiwan National Health insurance database, the source of the information
used in the analysis.
"Protection from heart disease and stroke was more pronounced
in participants who got tooth scaling at least once a year,"
said Emily (Zu-Yin) Chen, M.D., cardiology fellow at the Veterans
General Hospital in Taipei, Taiwan.
Professional tooth scaling appears to reduce inflammation-causing
bacterial growth that can lead to heart disease or stroke, she said.
Hsin-Bang Leu M.D., is the study co-author.
In a separate study (abstract 10576), researchers found that the
value of markers for gum disease predict myocardial infarction,
congestive heart failure and stroke in different ways and to different
degrees.
Anders Holmlund, D.D.S., Ph.D. Centre for Research and Development
of the County Council of Gavleborg, Sweden, and senior consultant;
Specialized Dentistry, studied 7,999 participants with periodontal
disease and found people with:
Fewer than 21 teeth had a 69 percent increased risk of heart attack
compared to those with the most teeth.
A higher number of deepened periodontal pockets had a 53 percent
increased risk of heart attack compared to those with the fewest
pockets.
The least amount of teeth had a 2.5 percent increased risk of congestive
heart failure compared to those with the most teeth.
The highest incidence of gum bleeding had a 2.1 percent increased
risk of stroke compared to those with the lowest incidence.
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