Researchers in Japan studied over 215,000 adults to understand how losing teeth affects heart health. They found that people missing certain teeth, especially back teeth (molars), had lower scores on heart health measurements. The study looked at both lifestyle factors like diet and exercise, and medical measurements like blood pressure and cholesterol. Interestingly, the connection between tooth loss and heart health was stronger in women than men. This research suggests that keeping your teeth healthy might be just as important for your heart as eating well and exercising.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether losing specific teeth affects how healthy your heart is, based on lifestyle habits and medical measurements
  • Who participated: Over 215,000 Japanese adults aged 40-75 years old who still had at least 20 of their 28 teeth and had recent dental and health check-ups
  • Key finding: People who lost their back upper teeth showed the biggest drop in heart health scores compared to people with all their teeth. Women showed stronger connections between tooth loss and heart health than men did.
  • What it means for you: Taking care of your teeth, especially your back teeth, may help protect your heart health. However, this study shows a connection but doesn’t prove that tooth loss causes heart problems—other factors could be involved.

The Research Details

This was a retrospective cohort study, which means researchers looked back at health insurance records from 2016-2019 for a large group of Japanese adults. They identified six different patterns of partial tooth loss (like losing upper back teeth, lower back teeth, or teeth on one side). The researchers then compared heart health scores between people with different tooth loss patterns and those with all their teeth.

Heart health was measured using seven factors: four lifestyle-related (smoking, weight, exercise, and diet) and three medical measurements (blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol). The researchers used a statistical method called K-median clustering to identify the different tooth loss patterns, then used advanced statistical models to find connections between specific tooth loss patterns and heart health scores.

This approach is important because it looks at real-world health data from a very large population rather than a small lab study. By identifying specific tooth loss patterns, the research goes beyond just asking ‘does tooth loss matter?’ to asking ‘which types of tooth loss matter most?’ This helps doctors understand whether dental health should be part of heart disease prevention.

Strengths: The study included over 215,000 people, making the results more reliable. It used actual health records rather than relying on people to remember their health history. It looked at both men and women separately to see if results differed. Limitations: The study only included Japanese adults, so results may not apply to other populations. It shows a connection between tooth loss and heart health but cannot prove that tooth loss causes heart problems. People with tooth loss might differ in other ways (like income or healthcare access) that could affect heart health.

What the Results Show

The study identified six distinct patterns of partial tooth loss. Compared to people with all 28 teeth, those with any pattern of partial tooth loss had lower heart health scores. The biggest drop in heart health scores was seen in people who lost their upper back teeth (molars), with a score reduction of about 0.28 points on their scale.

When researchers separated the results by sex, they found that the connection between tooth loss and poor heart health was stronger in women than in men. This suggests that tooth loss may affect women’s heart health more significantly than men’s.

Interestingly, tooth loss was more strongly connected to lifestyle factors (especially weight and diet) than to medical measurements (blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol). This suggests that people with tooth loss may have different eating habits or weight patterns that affect their overall heart health.

The study found that different types of tooth loss had different effects. Losing upper back teeth had the strongest association with poor heart health, while losing just a few front teeth had a weaker association. Unilateral molar loss (losing back teeth on just one side) also showed significant associations with lower heart health scores. The pattern suggests that back teeth are particularly important for overall health.

Previous research has shown that poor oral health is connected to heart disease risk, but most studies looked at general tooth loss or gum disease. This study adds to that knowledge by showing that specific tooth loss patterns matter differently. The finding that lifestyle factors (like diet) are more strongly connected than medical measurements is somewhat surprising and suggests that tooth loss may change how people eat, which then affects their heart health.

The study shows a connection but cannot prove that losing teeth causes heart problems—people with tooth loss might differ in other important ways. The study only included Japanese adults with at least 20 teeth, so results may not apply to people from other backgrounds or those with more severe tooth loss. The study used health insurance claims data, which may not capture all health information. The cross-sectional nature means we’re looking at one point in time, not following people over years to see what actually happens.

The Bottom Line

Based on this research (moderate confidence): Maintain your natural teeth, especially your back teeth, as part of your overall heart health strategy. Continue following standard heart health advice: don’t smoke, maintain a healthy weight, exercise regularly, eat a healthy diet, and monitor blood pressure and cholesterol. If you’re missing teeth, work with your dentist on replacement options (like implants or bridges) and maintain excellent oral hygiene. This research suggests dental health should be part of your overall heart disease prevention plan.

This research is most relevant to adults aged 40 and older, particularly women, who are concerned about heart health. It’s especially important for people who have already lost some teeth or are at risk for tooth loss. People with existing heart disease or risk factors should discuss dental health with both their dentist and doctor. This research may be less directly applicable to younger people or those with all their natural teeth.

This study shows associations at a single point in time, so we don’t know how quickly tooth loss affects heart health. Improvements in diet and lifestyle after tooth replacement might take weeks to months to show benefits. Long-term benefits of maintaining teeth would likely develop over years.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track dental visits and tooth health status monthly, noting any tooth loss or dental work. Simultaneously track heart health markers: weight, blood pressure readings, and dietary quality scores. Look for patterns between dental health changes and heart health measurements over 3-6 month periods.
  • Set a reminder for regular dental check-ups (every 6 months). If you have missing teeth, schedule a consultation about replacement options. Use the app to track your diet quality and weight, as these showed the strongest connections to heart health in this study. Log your daily meals to identify how tooth loss might be affecting your eating patterns.
  • Create a 6-month tracking dashboard that shows: (1) dental health status and any changes, (2) weight trends, (3) diet quality scores, (4) blood pressure readings if available, and (5) overall heart health score. Review monthly to see if improvements in dental care correlate with improvements in diet and weight management.

This research shows an association between tooth loss patterns and heart health scores but does not prove that tooth loss causes heart disease. Individual results vary based on many factors including genetics, overall health, and lifestyle. This information should not replace professional medical or dental advice. If you have concerns about your heart health or tooth loss, consult with your doctor or dentist. People with existing heart conditions should discuss any dental changes with their healthcare provider before making treatment decisions.