SkyNews - Thursday, September 11 03:09 am
People who forget to clean their teeth regularly are more likely to suffer a heart attack, scientists have found.
Around 700 types of bacteria attack bleeding gums which are a side effect of bad dental hygiene. The bacteria go straight to the bloodstream and are now known to be "independent factors" in causing heart disease - even if the person is fit and healthy.
Professor Howard Jenkinson from the University of Bristol, working with the Royal College of Surgeons, made the discovery after examining how blood cells are affected by harmful bacteria. Professor Jenkinson said: "Cardiovascular disease is currently the biggest killer in the Western world. "Oral bacteria such as Streptococcus gordonii and Streptococcus sanguinis are common infecting agents, and we now recognise that bacterial infections are an independent risk factor for heart diseases. "In other words it doesn't matter how fit, slim or healthy you are, you're adding to your chances of getting heart disease by having bad teeth."
The findings suggest why antibiotics do not always work in the treatment of infectious heart disease. Professor Jenkinson's team are working with Dr Steve Kerrigan of Ireland's Royal College to develop new and improved therapies.
