Brushing your teeth may prevent disease

It may seem an unusual link, but doctors have found that people who brush their teeth daily are much less likely to develop heart disease than those who don't.

A new study from the BMJ revealed that people who never or only rarely brush their teeth twice a day are up to 70% more likely to develop heart disease.

Although scientists have long suspected a relationship between gum disease and heart problems, this is the first study to high the dangers of poor oral hygiene.

Experts are unsure of the exact reason for the link, but suggest that it may be a result of inflammation in the mouth and gums, which they believe is connected to the build up of clogged arteries.

However despite the findings, the researchers stressed that the overall risk of heart disease from oral hygiene remains relatively low.

In the survey of more than 11,000 people, just 71% said they brushed their teeth twice a day and only 62% said they visited the dentist every six months.