Cleaning your teeth often, every day, is linked to a lower risk for heart problems. A new study found that brushing your teeth several times a day resulted in fewer cases of heart failure and atrial fibrillation— the term for an uneven heartbeat.
每天经常刷牙，会降低患心脏病的风险。一项新的研究发现，每天刷牙几次会导致更少的心衰和房颤（这是不均匀心跳的一个术语）。
Heart failure happens when the heart cannot do its job of pumping blood through the body.
当心脏不能将血液泵入体内时，就会发生心力衰竭。
What the research found is that brushing your teeth three times a day, or more, was linked to a ten percent lower risk of atrial fibrillation. It was also linked to a twelve percent lower risk of heart failure.
研究发现，每天刷牙三次或更多，与房颤风险降低10%有关。这也与降低12%的心力衰竭风险有关。
The study was published last Monday in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology.
这项研究发表在上周一的欧洲预防心脏病杂志上。
The researchers examined information on more than 161,000 people in Korea with no history of heart problems.
研究人员调查了在韩国没有心脏病史的161000人的资料。
They followed up ten and a half years later, and found that three percent had developed uneven heart rhythms and almost five percent had developed heart failure.
他们在十年半后进行了随访，发现百分之三的人出现了不均匀的心律，将近百分之五的人出现了心力衰竭。
All the participants in the study were part of the Korean National Health Insurance System, and aged 40 to 79. They had usual medical exams between 2003 and 2004.
所有参与研究的人都是韩国国家健康保险体系的一部分，年龄在40至79岁之间。他们在2003年至2004年期间进行了常规体检。
Information was collected on their height, weight, laboratory tests, sicknesses, and lifestyle. They also noted their mouth health in connection with cleaning.
收集了他们的身高、体重、实验室检查、疾病和生活方式等信息。他们还注意到他们的口腔健康与清洁有关。
Heart and teeth health connection心脏和牙齿健康关联
You may wonder, how are teeth health and heart health connected?
你可能会想，牙齿健康和心脏健康是如何联系在一起的？
Earlier research suggests that not taking care to clean and brush teeth leads to bacteria in the blood. This can cause inflammation, and increases the risk for unusual heartbeat and heart failure.
早期的研究表明，不注意清洁和刷牙会导致血液中的细菌。这会引起炎症，并增加异常心跳和心力衰竭的风险。
A study last year by the American Heart Association showed that brushing your teeth twice a day for at least two minutes may lower the risk of cardiovascular, or heart, diseases.美国心脏协会去年的一项研究表明，每天刷牙两次至少两分钟可以降低患心血管疾病或心脏病的风险。
That study looked at a smaller group of fewer than 700 people. The AHA said that the researchers found that people who brushed less than twice a day for less than two minutes were three times more at risk, compared to those who brush at least twice a day for two minutes.
这项研究调查了一个不到700人的小群体。美国心脏病协会说，研究人员发现，每天刷牙少于两次、刷牙时间少于两分钟的人比每天刷牙至少两次、刷牙时间少于两分钟的人风险高出三倍。
Gums are the soft tissue structure that hold the teeth. They need to be cleaned as well. Experts say if gums are not cared for this way they can become inflamed. They say there is a connection between such inflammation, and future heart disease.
牙龈是支撑牙齿的软组织结构。它们也需要清洗。专家说，如果牙龈不这样护理，就会发炎。他们说这种炎症和未来的心脏病有联系。
The lead investigator of the new study is Tae-Jin Song, a doctor and professor at Mokdong Hospital at Ewha Womans University in Seoul, South Korea. He noted "we studied a large group over a long period, which adds strength to our findings."这项新研究的主要调查者是韩国首尔ewawa
女子大学的医生兼教授宋泰进（Tae Jin Song）。他指出，“我们对一个大群体进行了长期的研究，这为我们的发现增添了力量。”
But he said that the research was limited to one country and as an observational study does not prove causation.
但他说，这项研究仅限于一个国家，作为一项观察研究，并不能证明因果关系。
The American Dental Association agrees. The organization said "this study is interesting, and while it may suggest an association between tooth brushing and heart health, it does not show a direct connection."
美国牙科协会同意。该组织说：“这项研究很有意思，虽然它可能表明刷牙和心脏健康之间的联系，但它并没有显示出直接的联系。”
To have good oral health, the ADA advises people to:
为了保持良好的口腔健康，ADA建议人们：
Brush their teeth twice a day for two minutes each time with a fluoride toothpaste
每天用含氟牙膏刷牙两次，每次两分钟
Clean between their teeth once per day
每天清洁牙齿一次
Maintain a healthy diet
保持健康饮食
See a dentist regularly
定期看牙医
Mouth care companies have taken note. Some manufacture electric toothbrushes programmed to run for two minutes. That way, people do not have to watch the time while brushing their teeth.
口腔护理公司已经注意到了。有些生产电动牙刷的程序是运行两分钟。这样，人们刷牙时就不用看时间了。
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