HEART
The PERICAR clinical trial was a collaboration between Sydney Dental Hospital and Royal North Shore Hospital (both in Australia) and Norway’s University of Oslo. It found strong evidence that treating gum disease can reduce the risk of a heart attack or stroke.

Participants had blood tests before and after treatment of gum disease to check for blood clots and signs of inflammation.

The study found that infl ammation in the mouth has a measurable effect in the bloodstream and therefore the rest of the body, as once the gum infection was eradicated the risk of heart attacks and future blood clots was reduced.

• Taylor, Tofl er et al; Journal of Dental Research, January 2006, p74-78