Heart healthy care benefits oral health

CLEVELAND, Aug 22, 2005 (United Press International via COMTEX) -- Case Werstern Reserve University researchers in Cleveland say "heart healthy habits" are also good for maintaining one's oral health.

The researchers examined data from 12,110 individuals who participated in the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. They found individuals who exercised, had healthy eating habits and maintained a normal weight were 40 percent less likely to develop periodontitis -- a gum infection that can result in loss of teeth.

Before the study and aside from brushing and flossing, healthy behaviors contributing to the prevention of periodontitis were unknown, the scientists said.

Mohammad Al-Zahrani conducted the study for his doctoral dissertation work in epidemiology at Case, in collaboration with Elaine Borawskiof the school's department of epidemiology and Nabil Bissada, chairman of the department of periodontics at the Case School of Dental Medicine.

The study appears in the Journal of Periodontology, the official publication of the American Academy of Periodontology.