Clean Teeth May Equal Healthy Hearts

(NEWSCHANNEL 3) - Dentists say do it every day, and most of us do.

That's good, because not only does it give you pearly whites and minty fresh breath, it may help save your life.

"Many people are not aware of the association between poor oral health and an increased risk for heart disease," said Dr. Lori Mosca of Columbia University Medical Center.

Dr. Mosca says research shows inflammation of the gums could contribute to heart problems. She adds that 70 percent of Americans do have some sort of issue with their gums.

"You know we have this at the root of our teeth, that actually the infection and inflammation could get into the blood stream and ultimately make its way to the heart," said Dr. Mosca.

Swelling in the body can be trouble, as can bacteria. When it's present in infected gums research shows bacteria can come loose and move through the body, traveling to the arteries.

"So in preventive cardiology our area of focus is reducing plaque buildup, but also reducing inflammation in the body," said Dr. Mosca.

If your gums are bleeding or inflamed, that's a solid indication you could have not only a dental problem, but a potential future issue with your heart. It is something that taking care of your teeth could make progress in avoiding.

"Good oral hygiene begins with flossing every day, brushing our teeth a couple times a day and on of the things I've recently learned is it might also be related to the type of toothpaste we use," said Dr. Mosca.

A toothpaste with an anti-bacterial agent in it as well as regular cleanings may help. Dentists and cardiologists admit this connection between mouth and heart is new but not one we should ignore.

"We need more research in this area, but for right now it makes a lot of good common sense to improve our oral hygiene," said Dr. Mosca.