There is another reason to brush your teeth daily.

People who do not perform this simple act of oral hygiene seem to have an increased risk of heart disease compared to their more conscientious.

"We were surprised to find a relationship between the frequency of tooth brushing and thus the risk of cardiovascular disease and inflammation markers in blood," said Richard Watts, co-authored a study appearing in this week's issue of the journal BMJ.

"But we have not established a causal relationship. More information is needed to assess whether improving oral hygiene of patients to reduce inflammation of the gums has an effect on cardiovascular disease risk, "said Watt, who works in the department of epidemiology and public health at University College London .

However, the findings make sense in light of previous studies that have found a link between gum disease and heart. Periodontal disease has been linked with a 19 percent increase in the risk of heart disease. That figure rises to 44 percent in people under 65, according to the study.

The most likely culprit is the inflammation associated with gum disease, which can be generalized throughout the system and contribute to the buildup of plaque in the arteries.

The study authors interviewed almost 12,000 people living in Scotland, who reported how often they brushed their teeth.

During an average of eight years of follow up, people who "brushed his teeth seldom or never" had a 70 percent increase in the risk of heart attack, stroke or other event, compared with those who did twice day.

Those who seldom or never brushed also had higher levels of C-reactive protein, a marker of inflammation.

But in general, participants had good oral hygiene, and claimed nearly two thirds going to the dentist every six months and almost three quarters reported brushing twice a day.

"Often, we talk about lifestyle behaviors such as smoking, exercise and diet, and one of the things we can not forget when it comes to personal care oral hygiene is," emphasized Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum, preventive cardiologist Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, and spokeswoman for the American Heart Association. "It's new. Do not smoke, eat well and brush your teeth. "

"It's good to have another reason to brush your teeth," added Dr. Harmony R. Reynolds, associate director of Cardiovascular Clinical Research Center Langone Medical Center at NYU, assistant professor of the Faculty of Medicine, University of New York. "Over time, reduces inflammation."