Sore gums? Watch your heart! Indeed, oral health would be linked to that of our heart. This is why researchers point out that it is necessary to take care of your teeth and gums to reduce the risk of heart disease.
Researchers at Forsyth’s Center for Clinical and Translational Research in Massachusetts (USA) have put forward a molecule, called Resolvin E1, which reduces inflammation both in the mouth and in the heart.
This new study highlights the real link between oral health and heart disease and confirms the results of previous research.
This relationship had already been highlighted by previous studies. In 2013, researchers from Harvard Medical School (USA) revealed that periodontics (bacterial infection of the gums) and atherosclerosis (loss of elasticity of the arteries) both result mainly from inflammation. And that inflammatory conditions tend to coexist in individuals.
Researchers from the University of Sydney (Australia) have revealed that the gum treatment reduced the thickness of the wall of their arteries. The effects of applying anti-inflammatory gel to the gums were comparable to a 30% drop in “bad” cholesterol in some subjects.
Inform the general public
“It’s time to add oral health to the list of high blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes or smoking when you want to monitor your heart health,” say the authors of this study.
“The general public understands the connection between heart health and overall well-being, and often takes appropriate steps to prevent heart disease,” says Dr. Hasturk, director of Forsyth’s Center for Clinical and Translational Research in Massachusetts. “We need more awareness for oral wellbeing to reach this category given the connections made with major disorders.”
Read also:
Gingivitis: how to overcome it quickly
4 small dental problems that should never be overlooked
All the solutions to treat weakened gums
