This simple morning operation can prevent heart disease

Brushing your teeth twice a day - that's what you need as part of trying to live a healthier life. Researchers believe that the relationship between gums and heart health is direct, and that's what they have to say

This simple morning operation can prevent heart disease

Video: This is what is hidden in your toothbrush

It's no secret that exercise and a healthy diet are essential to reducing the risk of heart disease - the leading cause of death among women and men around the world. However, a new study published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology offers another recommendation for those who want to adopt a healthier lifestyle - brushing their teeth well.

A study by the European Society of Cardiology, analyzed the dental hygiene of more than 160,000 people in Korea over the age of 40, and gathered information including height, weight, illnesses and lifestyle questionnaires to study the causes of heart disease.

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For this study, researchers selected people who had no prior history of heart problems, including atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat), heart failure, or other heart disease. After tracking for more than a decade the researchers calculated how many people experienced one of the heart complications, and then compared it to the general dental hygiene of the patients. Dental hygiene has been measured by a variety of factors, including the frequency of tooth brushing, the presence of periodontal disease, the number of professional dental cleans that have gone through, and the number of missing teeth.

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After comparing the data, researchers found that good oral hygiene was associated with a decreased risk of atrial fibrillation and heart failure. Based on this result, they suggested that people pay close attention to their dental condition. "Healthier oral hygiene maintained by frequent brushing and professional dental cleaning may reduce the risk of atrial fibrillation and heart failure," they wrote.

Take care of oral hygiene. Woman brushing her teeth (Photo: Giphy)

Toothbrush (Photo: Giphy)

The current study is based on a Japanese study published in 2018 involving more than 600 people, which found a potential link between heart disease and dental problems and periodontal disease. The American Heart Association study concluded that people who brushed less than twice a day for less than two minutes at a time were three times more likely to have heart failure, heart attack and stroke, compared to people who brushed a minimum of twice a day for at least two minutes.

While both studies show a connection between oral hygiene and heart disease, what is the basis? The first theory holds that bleeding gums may indicate circulatory problems that also cause heart disease. In addition, neglected gums can also be linked to an unhealthy lifestyle such as smoking and excessive alcohol, which have been shown to work in the heart and in other systems in the body.

Another theory suggests that the bacterial infection that causes gingivitis may also affect processes in different areas of the body. Gingivitis increases inflammatory processes such as scleral plaque formation, the same process that causes fat deposition and inflammatory cells in the artery walls, which in time can lead to a heart attack.