| Researchers point out that root caries may be a | | | | advanced age of those who participated in the study |
| marker of general physical decline in the elderly and | | | | may have been a factor in determining an association |
| specifically hint at the mouth as an integral part of the | | | | between overall periodontal disease and arrhythmia |
| body. A total of 125 generally healthy individuals over | | | | since those who might have been strong examples of |
| the age of 80, living in urban, community-based | | | | this association may not have survived to age 80. This |
| populations were examined. Researchers discovered | | | | study is published in the Journal of the American |
| that persons with three or more active root caries had | | | | Geriatrics Society. |
| more than twice the chances of cardiac arrhythmias | | | | Because arrhythmias can signify other possibly |
| than those without. | | | | undiagnosed diseases in older people, researchers |
| Elderly persons with active root caries, have an | | | | stress the importance of taking dental diseases |
| increased risk of having irregular heart beats. The | | | | seriously. |