How a simple mouthwash at your annual dental checkup can tell if you’re at risk for heart disease

Health
By Liam

By Xantha Leatham Deputy Science Editor for The Daily Mail

published: | Updated:

A simple mouthwash during an annual dental checkup could help detect people at early risk for heart disease, a study suggests.

Scientists think they can identify the earliest warning signs of the disease — which can lead to heart attacks and strokes — from a saliva sample.

Canadian researchers recruited 28 people between the ages of 18 and 30 who rinsed their mouths with saline, a mixture of salt and water, which was then collected for analysis.

Participants also had their blood pressure checked and tests on their cardiovascular system.

Canadian researchers recruited 28 people between the ages of 18 and 30 who rinsed their mouths with saline, a mixture of salt and water, which was then collected for analysis

Results, published in the journal Frontiers in Oral Health, revealed that a high white blood cell count in saliva was associated with poor flow-mediated dilatation.

This refers to the dilation of arteries when blood flows through them and, if compromised, can be an early indicator of poor arterial health that can lead to heart disease.

The team said the presence of white blood cells indicates gum inflammation, which has already been linked to heart problems.

Inflammation from the mouth can travel through the gums into the bloodstream, she added, which in turn affects the arteries.

Co-author Dr. Michael Glogauer, from the University of Toronto, said: ‘The mouthwash can be used at your annual check-up with the doctor or dentist.

“It is easy to implement as an instrument for measuring oral inflammation in any clinic.”

First author Ker-Yung Hong, from the University of Western Ontario, added: ‘We are starting to see more relationships between oral health and cardiovascular disease risk.

‘If we see that oral health can have an impact on the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, even in young healthy individuals, this holistic approach can be implemented sooner.’

The team added: ‘Optimal oral hygiene is always recommended alongside regular visits to the dentist, especially in light of the evidence.’

HIGH BLOODPRESSURE

High blood pressure or hypertension rarely has noticeable symptoms. But if left untreated, it increases your risk of serious problems like heart attacks and strokes.

More than one in four adults in the UK have high blood pressure, although many don’t realize it.

The only way to find out if your blood pressure is high is to have your blood pressure checked.

Blood pressure is recorded with two digits. The systolic pressure (higher number) is the force at which your heart pumps blood through your body.

The diastolic pressure (bottom number) is the resistance to blood flow in the arteries. They are both measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg).

As a general guideline:

  • high blood pressure is considered 140/90 mmHg or higher
  • ideal blood pressure is considered to be between 90/60 mmHg and 120/80 mmHg
  • low blood pressure is considered 90/60 mmHg or lower
  • A blood pressure reading between 120/80 mmHg and 140/90 mmHg may mean you’re at risk for developing high blood pressure if you don’t take steps to control your blood pressure.

If your blood pressure is too high, it puts extra strain on your blood vessels, heart and other organs, such as the brain, kidneys and eyes.

Persistent high blood pressure can increase your risk for a number of serious and potentially life-threatening conditions, such as:

  • heart disease
  • heart attacks
  • to succeed
  • heart failure
  • peripheral arterial disease
  • aortic aneurysms
  • kidney disease
  • vascular dementia

Source: health service

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