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Take care of your teeth to protect your heart

07 Nov 2013 | By INSERM (Newsroom) | International

crédit photo : ©Fotolia

We already know the importance of a healthy mouth and teeth to prevent tooth decay and avoid gum inflammation.

According to a recent study by Columbia University, New York, there is a link between gum disease and the state of the arteries.

The American researchers showed that the damage done by bacteria is not mainly in the mouth, but spreads throughout the body, deteriorating artery walls. The study, carried out over 3 years on 420 people with an average age of 68, showed a close link between the quantity of bacteria in dental plaque and the course of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), which causes many cardiovascular diseases.

For further information on this study, please contact Olivier Meilhac, research director Inserm (Bichat University Hospital).

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Researcher Contact

Olivier Meilhac
Directeur de recherche Unité Inserm 698 Hémostase, bio-ingénierie, immunopathologie et remodelage cardiovasculaires
02 62 93 88 16 (+3h de décalage)
rf.mresni@cahliem.reivilo

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