In October everything turns pink for breast cancer awareness which is a really worthy cause and has helped save many lives.  What many women don’t know that they are actually at a much higher risk from heart disease and other cardiovascular problems.  The ways of protecting yourself are mostly familiar, eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly and don’t smoke.

Women need to add visit the dentist regularly to this list.  A new study led by a University of California, Berkeley researcher shows that women who got dental care reduced their risk of heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular problems by at least one-third.

The journal Health Economics reported that the study compared people who went to the dentist during the previous two years with those who did not.  “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” said study author Timothy Brown.  The method used in the study ruled out the possibility that people who seek out dental care  are perhaps healthier in general that those who don’t.

The study authors suggest that for dental care to be protective of women’ s  hearts it should occur early in the development of cardiovascular disease.    It seems to me that lifelong good oral hygiene care would be best of all.

If you are a woman who has not visited the dentist recently, or if a female loved one is skipping her dental visits it is important to contact my Columbus area office at 614-476-6696 to schedule an appointment.  A healthy smile and a healthy heart go hand in hand.