Avoid Heart Disease, Brush Your Teeth

Who would have thought that brushing your teeth could actually help prevent heart disease? Studies have shown that there is a link between gum disease and heart disease. Now, researchers have found a specific link between the two that centers around proteins.

It seems that both bacteria and humans produce a particular type of protein called heat shock or stress proteins. These proteins are produced when cells experience various types of stressful conditions. When a person has a gum infection, the immune system cells go to work by attacking the bacteria. The bacteria produce stress proteins when under attack, and white blood cells attack the stress proteins as well.

The problem lies in the fact that the white blood cells can not distinguish between stress proteins produced by bacteria, and those produced by the body. As a result, the immune system cells also attack the stress proteins that are produced by the body. It is this assault that causes a build-up of white blood cells in the arteries, which leads to atherosclerosis.

Learn more about this study, see:

• Brush Your Teeth To Reduce The Risk Of Heart Disease (Science Daily)