Research conducted by the University of California, Berkeley has found a reduced risk of heart related problems, such as heart attacks and strokes in those who frequently get general dental checks and care. Oddly, the link is only found in women and the analysis did not find the same result amongst men.

The study of 7,000 people –both men and women- between the ages of 44 and 88 attempted to find a similarity between the two controls, studying individuals who lead life styles as similar to one another as possible, except for a variation in dental work and care; this is known as causality. The researchers have stated that it is hard to keep a firm control on the subjects in this kind of research. The study is not an isolated analysis says Timothy Brown, an assistant adjunct professor of health policy and management at the University’s school of public health, “Many studies have found associations between dental care and cardiovascular disease, but our study is the first to show that general dental care leads to fewer heart attacks, strokes and other adverse cardiovascular outcomes in a causal way.”

Some researchers, such as Dr. Stephen Brown an obstetrician/gynaecologist from West Virginia University and co-author of the research, believes it is to do with estrogen, which helps prevent atherosclerosis. The researchers state that cleaning, fluoride and sealant treatments make up 75% of older adults’ dental treatments during visits and that any protective effect the dental treatment renders is only effective during early development of the heart disease.