清洁牙齿 拯救心脏

Most of us don’t give serious thought to our mouths. We use them to eat, talk, breathe, and yet rarely give them more attention beyond keeping our teeth clean and white.

But the mouth can also be a gateway for 1)bacteria, and research is now showing how our mouths can significantly impact the rest of our bodies. People who have 2)parodontitis or 3)gum disease, have a greater chance of having heart attacks, or suffering other 4)cardio-vascular

problems than those who have healthier gums. In fact,

recent studies from Columbia University show the amount of bacteria in the mouth is directly related to 5)atherosclerosis

the dangerous buildup of cholesterol fat and other 6)particles

in the walls of our 7)arteries. Over time, this hardening

of the arteries can cause blood 8)clots and 9)blockages,

and ultimately, lead to 10)strokes and heart attacks.

Experts say that people with gum disease should tackle their

infections quickly and thoroughly, with professional cleanings,

and perhaps even 11)antibiotics. And for everyone else,

keeping a healthy mouth, regular brushing and 12)flossing, might help keep our hearts and brains healthy, too.

With this Medical Minute, I’m Dr. Timothy Johnson.

我们大多数人都不太把口腔健康当回事。我们用嘴吃饭、谈话、呼吸，但是，除了把牙齿刷干净、变亮白以外，很少有人会更关注它。

然而口腔同样是病菌的入口。现在，研究表明我们的口腔会对身体其它部位产生如何深远的影响。

受牙周炎或者牙龈疾病困扰的人比牙龈健康的人更有可能心脏病发，或者遭受心血管问题的困扰。

事实上，来自哥伦比亚大学的最新研究显示，口腔内的细菌数量直接关系到动脉硬化症（的患病几率）；动脉硬化症是动脉管壁上胆固醇脂肪和其它粒子的危险性累积造成的。随着时间的推移，动脉的硬化会引发血液凝块和梗阻，最终导致中风和心脏病发。

专家称，有牙龈疾病的人们应该迅速、全面地处理感染问题，进行专业清洁，甚至可能需要注射抗生素。而对于没有口腔疾病的人来说，保持口腔健康，定期刷牙和使用牙线清洁也将有助我们保持心脏和大脑健康。

这里是“医学时刻”，我是蒂莫西・约翰逊医生。