Press cutting: Brushing teeth could prevent heart attacks and strokes

Dental treatments and good oral hygiene can help the flow of blood through arteries, the study by British and US researchers found. It could help prevent heart attacks and strokes, they say.

A group of 120 patients with severe periodontitis - gum disease - were given either a standard or specially-intensive course of treatment which included clearing bacteria-filled plaque, and the extraction of teeth that were no longer safely rooted in the gum.

Initially the function of blood vessels of intensively-treated patients appeared to worsen. But after 60 days they improved compared with patients given the standard treatment. After 180 days a difference of 2% was seen between the groups.

Dilation of the arteries in response to blood flow was increased. This occurred at the same time as the patients' gums became healthier.

The findings from scientists at UCL and the University of Connecticut in the US are reported today in the 'New England Journal of Medicine'. John Deanfield [UCL Institute of Child Health] said: "Previous studies have shown an association between periodontitis and blood vessel dysfunction, heart attack and stroke.

"However, a clinical trial was required to test whether these links could be causal. This is the first time that a direct link has been made between treatment for gum disease and improved circulatory function, which is relevant to some of the UK's biggest killers: heart attack and stroke.

"This finding therefore has potential implications for public health, but further studies are required to determine whether the treatment of severe periodontitis could directly contribute to the prevention of disease of the arteries (atherosclerosis), stroke and heart attacks."

The precise mechanism by which gum disease affects the function of blood vessel cell walls is still uncertain. Gum disease involves infection by bacteria which invade tissue around the teeth. One possibility is that some of these bacteria enter the bloodstream, and cause direct damage to arteries. Another is that they trigger a low-grade inflammatory response throughout the body.

Polly Curtis, health correspondent, 'The Guardian'