Good Dental Hygiene may Prevent Heart Attacks, U of Minnesota Study Finds
University of MinnesotaBacteria found in dental plaque near diseased gums can induce clumping of blood platelets, a University of Minnesota study has found. Such clumping is an early step in the formation of blood clots, the precipitating event in heart attacks. While previous reports have linked bacterial infections to the buildup of atherosclerotic plaque in coronary arteries, the researchers believe this to be the first evidence linking bacteria to the event that directly causes most heart attacks.