The Journal of the American College of Cardiology has recently published a study in which heart disease patients were given statins, a type of drug designed to lower cholesterol. The study found that while the statins in high dose reduced cholesterol, the medication also reduced gum inflammation in as little as 4 weeks of treatment.
What does this mean for oral health care, dentistry and medicine in general? For one, it further provides a link between oral health care and heart disease, as the researchers believe that treating gum disease and treating high cholesterol using the same medication may mean that you avoid the risks of gum disease and the risks of high cholesterol.
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