Heart disease is a leading cause of death in North America. But what if a quick rinse of your mouth could reveal early signs of heart problems?
Recent studies indicate that our oral health, especially gum inflammation, might have links to our heart’s health.
Gum infections, known as periodontitis, have previously been connected to heart issues. The theory is that the inflammation from the gums might seep into our blood, leading to damage in our heart’s blood vessels.
Given these findings, scientists are now investigating whether even minor gum inflammation in otherwise healthy individuals can hint at heart risks.
The Study: Young Adults and Saliva Tests
Researchers wanted to examine young adults who seemed healthy and didn’t show any signs of gum infections.
They wanted to see if there was a connection between minor gum inflammation and early indicators of heart risk.
They zeroed in on 28 young non-smokers, aged between 18 and 30, with no known health issues or medications that could affect their heart’s health.
Before the tests, these participants weren’t allowed to eat or drink anything, except water, for six hours.
In the lab, the participants rinsed their mouths with water, followed by saline (saltwater). This saline rinse was then analyzed to check for levels of white blood cells – a sign of inflammation.
The participants also underwent a heart checkup, which included tests that measured the health of their arteries.
One key measure was flow-mediated dilation – a way to determine how well our arteries adjust to increased blood flow. When arteries don’t adjust well, it can be a warning sign for heart problems.
Findings and Future Steps
After analyzing the results, scientists found an intriguing connection: participants with higher white blood cells in their saliva – indicating gum inflammation – also showed poorer artery adjustment.
This might mean they’re at a higher risk for heart problems.
However, not all heart measures showed a connection. Pulse wave velocity, which checks artery stiffness, didn’t seem to relate to white blood cell levels.
The researchers believe that the inflammation in the mouth might reduce the arteries’ ability to release a molecule called nitric oxide. This molecule helps arteries adjust to changes in blood flow.
But they caution that these findings are initial. Larger studies with more diverse participants are needed to deepen our understanding of this link.
Dr. King, one of the researchers, emphasizes the importance of regular dental check-ups and maintaining good oral hygiene.
He hopes that as more studies confirm these results, a simple mouth rinse test can become part of routine health check-ups, helping in early detection and prevention of heart risks.
If you care about heart health, please read studies that vitamin K helps cut heart disease risk by a third, and a year of exercise reversed worrisome heart failure.
For more information about heart health, please see recent studies about supplements that could help prevent heart disease, stroke, and results showing this food ingredient may strongly increase heart disease death risk.
The study was published in Frontiers in Oral Health.
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