Maintaining good oral health is crucial, not only for a radiant smile, but also a healthy heart. These are the results of a new Case Western Reserve University study, Ohio in the United States, published in the ‘Journal of Endodontics’.
The researchers from the School of Dental Medicine found ‘significant’ evidence linking tooth loss to an increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease (CVD).
Study’s lead researcher Anita Aminoshariae, professor at the dental school, said her comprehensive analysis also revealed that those with several lost teeth face an even higher chance of dying from heart disease, according to the American Heart Association (AHA).
While the causal association between oral and cardiovascular disease is not well understood, Aminoshariae said the link is generally believed to be a “predictive risk factor.”
In other words, the cause hasn’t been established. “Our findings clearly show that tooth loss is not just a dental issue, but a significant predictor of cardiovascular disease mortality,” Aminoshariae said. “Maintaining good oral health is essential, not only for a healthy smile, but also for a healthy heart.
This study underscores the importance of regular dental check-ups and preventive care to reduce the risk of serious cardiovascular events.”
Researchers conducted an exhaustive literature review—scouring more than a dozen respected scholarly research journals to see whether a connection exists between losing teeth and dying from CVD.