Brushing and flossing daily may protect not just your teeth, but also your heart and brain, according to two new studies published in Neurology Open Access.
In the first study, researchers analysed data from 5,986 adults (average age 63; 52 per cent female) who had no history of stroke at the start of the study. After dental examinations, participants were divided into three groups: those with good oral health, those with gum disease only, and those with both gum disease and cavities.
Over nearly two decades of follow-up, the researchers found that compared with people who had healthy mouths, those with both gum disease and cavities had an 86 per cent higher risk of stroke and a 36 per cent higher risk of heart attack, fatal heart disease, or other major cardiovascular event. Participants with gum disease alone had a 44 per cent increased risk of stroke.
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Regular dental visits appeared to make a significant difference. Those who reported seeing a dentist routinely had 81 per cent lower odds of having both gum disease and cavities, and 29 per cent lower odds of having gum disease alone.
A second study by the same research group, involving 1,143 adults with an average age of 77, found that people with gum disease were more likely to show signs of damage to the brain’s white matter—known as white matter hyperintensities—than those without gum disease. Damage to the white matter can impair memory, thinking, balance and coordination, and has been linked to an increased risk of stroke.
“This study reinforces the idea that taking care of your teeth and gums isn’t just about your smile; it could help protect your brain,” said the study’s lead author.
