Regular Dental Care Helps Heart

A new study shows that older women who get regular dental care can help their hearts.

The researchers reported that about one-third of women are less likely to suffer from heart disease than those who do not get regular care. The findings for men did not confirm a link.

Each year, heart disease is at the top of the list of the country's most serious health problems. In fact, statistics show that cardiovascular disease is America's leading health problem and the leading cause of death.

It is a myth that heart disease is a man's disease. In fact, cardiovascular diseases are the number one killer of women (and men). These diseases currently claim the lives of half a million females every year.

Study points to postmenopausal changes

Experts caution that this latest study does not prove that dental care directly improves the heart health of women by lowering the risk of conditions like heart attack and stroke. The study researchers believe, however, that the findings are important.

The study was published in the journal Health Economics.

The researchers analyzed the medical records of nearly 7,000 people ages 44 to 88 who had participated in another study. The data from that study had been collected between 1996 and 2004.

"We think the findings reflect differences in how men and women develop cardiovascular disease," says study co-author Stephen Brown, M.D., at West Virginia University.

"Other studies suggest that estrogen has a protective effect against heart disease because it helps prevent the development of atherosclerosis,” says Dr. Brown. “It's not until women hit menopause, around age 50 to 55, that they start catching up with men."

Dentist sees link with inflammation

Maria Emanuel Ryan, D.D.S., at Stony Brook University in New York, says she has seen signs of a link between dental care and heart disease in her own practice.

She notes that the study "confirms the findings of some of the studies conducted in the insurance industry, which suggest that the medical costs for cardiac care and diabetes are reduced in patients who have regular dental visits."

There does appear to be a connection between gum disease, in particular, and heart disease.

Research suggests that chronic inflammation causes heart disease, Dr. Ryan says, and gum disease "is the most common chronic inflammatory condition in the world."

“Unfortunately, periodontitis - or gum disease - is often a silent disease that goes undetected and untreated," she says.

Always talk with your doctor to find out more information.