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Clean your teeth... avoid a heart attack
James - 28/5/10 at 06:35 AM

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/10176410.stm

Cheers,
James

franky - 28/5/10 at 06:41 AM

what a load of rubbish! If people aren't cleaning their teeth then its obvious that they're not looking after themselves so must be more open to illness.

Its like saying people who can't wipe their ass are more likely to have something wrong with them

MikeRJ - 28/5/10 at 07:03 AM

quote:
Originally posted by franky
what a load of rubbish! If people aren't cleaning their teeth then its obvious that they're not looking after themselves so must be more open to illness.


Exactly right, correlation does not imply causation!

coozer - 28/5/10 at 07:05 AM

My granny used to spend 8 hours a day cleaning her teeth... in a glass with some fizzy stuff at the side of her bed. The grim reaper probably took one look and said 'Ooo, not tonight pet'

David Jenkins - 28/5/10 at 07:06 AM

It's old news - it's been known for years that a mouthful of bad teeth will result in bad health, even if the rest of the body is ok.

iank - 28/5/10 at 07:10 AM

quote:
Originally posted by MikeRJ
quote:
Originally posted by franky
what a load of rubbish! If people aren't cleaning their teeth then its obvious that they're not looking after themselves so must be more open to illness.


Exactly right, correlation does not imply causation!


But a good study can statistically eliminate that aspect if the sample is large and varied enough.

James - 28/5/10 at 07:18 AM

quote:
Originally posted by MikeRJ
quote:
Originally posted by franky
what a load of rubbish! If people aren't cleaning their teeth then its obvious that they're not looking after themselves so must be more open to illness.


Exactly right, correlation does not imply causation!



"Then nurses collected information on medical history and family history of heart disease, took blood pressure and blood samples.

Taking into account factors that affect heart disease risk, such as social class, obesity, smoking and family history, the researchers found those who brushed twice a day were at a lower risk.

Those with poor oral hygiene also tested positive in blood samples for proteins which are suggestive of inflammation. "

GMPMotorsport - 28/5/10 at 07:36 AM

I wonder if any one has ever done a survey into how much these stupid surveys cost?

David Jenkins - 28/5/10 at 07:49 AM

quote:
Originally posted by GMPMotorsport
I wonder if any one has ever done a survey into how much these stupid surveys cost?


A lot of these "scientific studies" are student's projects - the university usually tries to claim the credit.

Either that, or it's sponsored by a pharmaceutical company - I wonder if this was paid for by someone like Lever Brothers! (who make famous brands of toothpaste, amongst other things).

James - 28/5/10 at 08:38 AM

quote:
Originally posted by David Jenkins
quote:
Originally posted by GMPMotorsport
I wonder if any one has ever done a survey into how much these stupid surveys cost?


A lot of these "scientific studies" are student's projects - the university usually tries to claim the credit.

Either that, or it's sponsored by a pharmaceutical company - I wonder if this was paid for by someone like Lever Brothers! (who make famous brands of toothpaste, amongst other things).


"The British Medical Journal study backs previous work showing a link between gum disease and heart problems. "


But it could also have been Proctor and Gamble (Oral B toothbrushes) or Colgate Palmolive (toothpaste).

Tim 45 - 28/5/10 at 09:23 AM

Having actually read the article they say that there is a link, even after adjustments for socio-economic groups, dental visits etc, however their study does not find the cause of the link. Assumiingly this was a feasability study and the cause will be focussed on in later studys.

One suggested route is that since periodontal diseases - like gingivitis, are the most common disease in the UK and number 1 cause of tooth loss, that there is a strong correllation between the chronic inflammation occuring at the gums and the higher risk of cardiovascular disease.

In addition, there were no conflicts of interest in the study, and the funding was from british heart foundation, national institute of ageing and the scottish executive.

If anyones interested, heres the link

Minicooper - 28/5/10 at 09:38 AM

As a chronic heart disease sufferer, inflamation of the gums, root canal toxicity and other dental factors are possible indicators of potential heart disease and they are one of the things that are checked at regular health reviews.
The survey is sensationlised by the press once again to suggest cleaning your teeth regularly will stop heart attacks, read the survey and you will find that is not so.

David

MikeRJ - 28/5/10 at 10:21 AM

quote:
Originally posted by GMPMotorsport
I wonder if any one has ever done a survey into how much these stupid surveys cost?


I wonder if they could do a stupid survey to determine just how stupid these surveys are

News just in! A survey has shown a link between the amount a person eats and their state of health. Experiments showed that 100% of subjects who were given no food at all became ill and eventually died. Scientists suggest that to stay healthy you eat as much food as possible.