Heart Attack & Stroke
Apr 20, 2017

Professional Tooth Cleanings Linked With Lower Risk of Heart Attacks and Strokes

 Among more than 100,000 people, those who had tooth cleaning (tooth scaling) by a dentist or dental hygienist had a 24 percent lower risk of heart attack and 13 percent lower risk of stroke compared to those who had never had a dental cleaning. The participants were followed for an average of seven years.

Scientists considered tooth cleaning frequent if it occurred at least twice or more in two years; occasional tooth scaling was once or less in two years.

The study included more than 51,000 adults who had received at least one full or partial tooth scaling and a similar number of people matched with gender and health conditions who had no tooth scaling. None of the participants had a history of heart attack or stroke at the beginning of the study.

Type of periodontal disease predicts degree of risk for heart attack, stroke, and heart failure.

Anders Holmlund, D.D.S., Ph.D. Centre for Research and Development of the County Council of Gävleborg, Sweden, and senior consultant; Specialized Dentistry, studied 7,999 participants with periodontal disease and found people with:


 

  • Fewer than 21 teeth had a 69 percent increased risk of heart attack compared to those with the most teeth.

  • A higher number of deepened periodontal pockets (infection of the gum around the base of the tooth) had a 53 percent increased risk of heart attack compared to those with the fewest pockets.

  • The least amount of teeth had a 2.5 increased risk of congestive heart failure compared to those with the most teeth.

  • The highest incidence of gum bleeding had a 2.1 increased risk of stroke compared to those with the lowest incidence.

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