In spitting distance

With Canadian researchers recently identifying a link between high white blood cells in the saliva of healthy young adults and an early cardiovascular disease warning sign, the humble mouthwash may prove to be not so humble after all.

The Mount Royal University study used a simple oral rinse to see if levels of white blood cells – an indicator of gum inflammation – in the saliva of healthy adults could be linked to warning signs of heart disease. They found that high levels correlated with compromised flow-mediation dilation, an early indicator of poor arterial health.

Periodontitis is a common infection of the gingiva which has previously been linked to the development of cardiovascular disease: scientists suspect that inflammatory factors may enter the bloodstream through the gums and damage the vascular system.