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Treating gum disease could reduce risk of heart attacks and strokes, study suggests

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Treating gum disease could reduce risk of heart attacks and strokes, study suggests

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A deep clean at the dentist may benefit more than just your oral health.

In a two-year study of people with periodontitis or severe gum disease, researchers from University College London (UCL) found that those who got intensive treatment — a full-mouth deep cleaning with regular follow-ups — had slower thickening and clogging of a major neck artery and better blood-vessel function than those who only got routine cleanings.

The randomized controlled trial tracked 135 adults at UCL’s Eastman Dental Institute who had periodontitis, which can stem from poor oral hygiene, genetics, smoking or uncontrolled diabetes, according to the research published this month in the European Heart Journal. 

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At 12 and 24 months, participants who received intensive deep cleanings showed less gum inflammation and fewer bacteria entering the bloodstream, and their arteries were healthier than those who got standard scale-and-polish care, which only removes plaque and tartar buildup. 

A new study found that deep dental cleanings could benefit heart health. (iStock)

Dr. Marco Orlandi, co-author of the trial, said in a statement that the participants who received the intensive gum disease treatment had a 0.02 millimeter reduction in the thickening of their carotid arteries after two years.

“This is a significant result, as even a 0.01 millimeter reduction corresponds to a 10% decrease in cardiovascular disease risk, suggesting participants reduced their risk by around 10% each year,” Orlandi said.

Doctors track the thickness of the carotid artery wall as an early warning sign for clogged arteries that can lead to heart attacks and strokes. This study didn’t count actual heart events, but the artery changes, along with lower gum inflammation, suggest that improved oral health could help fight cardiovascular disease.

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All participants were otherwise healthy and not taking regular medication, helping researchers isolate the effects of gum disease treatment.

Researchers found that participants who received deep gum cleanings showed slower thickening of the carotid artery. (iStock)

“This is among the most robust evidence to date that oral and cardiovascular health are interconnected,” Professor John Deanfield, lead author of the study and director of cardiovascular prevention at UCL, said in a statement. “Addressing periodontitis could become a powerful tool in preventing serious heart and brain events such as heart attacks and strokes.”

Professor Francesco D’Aiuto, another of the study’s co-authors, added that medical and dental professionals should work more closely in recognizing and addressing the cardiovascular implications of gum disease. 

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Periodontitis affects about 40% of adults worldwide and can cause bleeding, swelling and tenderness of the gums and tooth loss if untreated.

“Your gums are part of your vascular system,” Dr. Catrise Austin, a New York City cosmetic dentist and host of the “Let’s Talk Smiles” podcast, told Fox News Digital. “If they’re inflamed and bleeding, your arteries feel it.”

Experts recommend daily brushing, flossing and routine cleanings to reduce inflammation that can affect more than just your mouth. (iStock)

Austin, who was not involved in the study, said the findings are further proof that doctors and cardiologists should start paying closer attention to their patients’ gum health. 

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“Asking a simple question like, ‘Do your gums bleed when you brush?’ could help identify early signs of systemic inflammation long before more serious health issues arise,” she said.

For patients, she recommends brushing twice daily, flossing daily, getting regular professional cleanings, quitting smoking and managing conditions like diabetes. 

“These steps not only protect your smile, they also lower inflammation that contributes to cardiovascular disease,” Austin said.

The study, supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and the NIHR UCLH Biomedical Research Center in collaboration with University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, adds to a growing body of research linking gum health to overall well-being.

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Earlier this year, an analysis of more than 500,000 people in the U.K. Biobank found that those with signs of gum disease, such as bleeding or painful gums, were more likely to have multiple chronic conditions, from diabetes to heart disease to depression.

The study measured carotid artery thickness, an early sign of heart disease. (iStock)

Much of the previous evidence was correlated, showing that people with gum disease tend to have higher cardiovascular risk, but it did not prove that treating gum disease reduces heart attacks or strokes.

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Fox News Digital has reached out to the study’s authors for comment.

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176 Lbs—Gone! Why One Woman’s Gentle Weight-Loss Tips Really Work

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Brain aging may accelerate after cancer treatment, study suggests

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Brain aging may accelerate after cancer treatment, study suggests

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Surviving cancer as a child or young adult may have a lasting impact on aging, new research suggests.

Researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center looked at whether life-saving treatments, like chemotherapy and radiation, could speed up biological aging.

They also aimed to determine whether this age acceleration was linked to cognitive issues related to memory, focus and learning.

The team analyzed blood samples from a group of 1,400 long-term survivors treated at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, using epigenetic clocks — tools that estimate biological age by examining chemical tags on DNA.

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Biological age is determined based on damage the cells accumulate over time, versus chronological age, which is measured by how long someone has been alive, according to scientists.

Biological age is determined based on the damage cells accumulate over time, according to scientists. (iStock)

“These well-established aging-related biomarkers have previously been associated with neurocognitive impairment and decline in older non-cancer populations, particularly in cognitive domains related to aging and dementia, such as memory, attention and executive function,” the study stated.

Most of the group consisted of acute lymphoblastic leukemia survivors, or Hodgkin lymphoma survivors. Participants were at least five years past their treatment, though some had survived for several decades.

They underwent neurocognitive testing to measure their attention span, memory and information processing speed.

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Chemotherapy was found to have the greatest impact on aging acceleration. The study suggests the treatment can alter DNA structure and cause cellular damage.

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“It’s no surprise to find out that young people with cancer who have chemo early in life are affected in terms of long-term aging,” Dr. Marc Siegel, senior medical analyst for Fox News, told Fox News Digital.

Participants underwent neurocognitive testing to measure their attention span, memory and speed of information processing. (iStock)

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Researchers also found that cellular aging was closely linked to cognitive performance, as survivors of a higher biological age had more difficulty with memory and attention.

“Chemo poisons and damages cellular function — hopefully the cancer cells more than normal cells, but there is a significant impact on normal cells as well,” said Siegel, who was not involved in the study.

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“There is also something called ‘chemo brain,’ which causes at least temporary difficulty with memory, concentration, word finding and brain fog,” the doctor added.

The research team hopes to use these findings to focus on intervention efforts, specifically by determining when accelerated aging begins.

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“Young cancer survivors have many more decades of life to live,” lead study author AnnaLynn Williams, PhD, said in a press release. “If these accelerated aging changes are occurring early on and setting them on a different trajectory, the goal is to intervene to not only increase their lifespan, but improve their quality of life.”

The team hopes this research will help in the development of early intervention tools that aim to prevent cognitive decline. (iStock)

There were some limitations to the study. The researchers could not adjust for chronic health conditions or education because they are directly impacted by treatment.

Additionally, the study only looked at the survivors at a single point of time, so it could not directly prove causation.

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The study was published in the journal Nature Communications.

Fox News Digital reached out to the researchers for comment.

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