subject: To lower risk of heart disease, women should regularly visit the dentist [print this page] To lower risk of heart disease, women should regularly visit the dentist
According to the results of a study published in Health Economics, women who receive dental care may reduce their risk of future heart disease by at least one-third. In order for dental care to have a protective effect against heart disease, dental care should occur early in the early stages of the disease development. Isn't it a great reason for women to somehow make time for dental visits every six months, especially if they have kept on postponing them?
According to lead author Timothy Brown, assistant adjunct professor of health policy and management at UC Berkeley's School of Public Health, quoted in Science Daily, "Many studies have found associations between dental care and cardiovascular disease, but our study is the first to show that general dental care leads to fewer heart attacks, strokes, and other adverse cardiovascular outcomes in a causal way."
The study which analyzed data from nearly 7,000 men and women between ages 44-88 who were enrolled in the Health and Retirement looked at multiple factors including age, race, education, marital status, foreign birthplace, as well as cardiovascular risk. Cardiovascular risk factors include the person's health status, body mass index, their alcohol use and smoking, levels of physical activity, depression and whether they had diabetes and high-blood-pressure and related data. The finding may not be universally applicable to all women because the data set only included married middle-aged and older individuals.
While women in the group seemed to benefit from regular dental care, the analysis found no similar effect on men. This findingthat women who visited dentists during the previous two years were less likely to develop heart disease compared to others, but that there was no similar benefit for menis not surprising to researchers who have known all along that there are differences between the sexes in the development and occurrence of cardiovascular disease (CVD). When researchers refer to CVD, they include new occurrences of heart attack, stroke and death from heart attack or stroke, as well as angina, and congestive heart failure.
According to study co-author Dr. Stephen Brown, a first-year obstetrician/gynecologist resident at the West Virginia University Charleston Division School of Medicine, other studies suggest that estrogen has a protective effect against heart disease as it helps prevent the development of atherosclerosis. "It's not until women hit menopause around age 50 to 55 that they start catching up with men," says Brown.
So what happened during the dental visits that made the difference? While the researchers did not have data on the type of procedures used during the dental visit, other studies have indicated that three-fourths of older adult dental visits involved preventive services, such as cleaning, fluoride and sealant treatments.
Oral health experts recommend twice-yearly visits to the dentist. And it is accepted that, at the least everyone should brush and floss twice a day. If you wear dentures, ensure that they stay clean to prevent the growth and buildup of bacteria and plaque.
