Researchers from the University of Louisville (UofL) School of Dentistry in the US and their colleagues have discovered details of how proteins produced by oral epithelial cells protect humans against viruses entering the body through the mouth.

Previous studies have linked poor oral hygiene with hyper-inflammation and cardiovascular disease.

Electric toothbrushes can remove up to twice as much plaque as a manual brush, so one could be seen as a good investment.

Blocking the function of a blood-clotting protein prevented bone loss from periodontal (gum) disease in mice, according to research led by scientists at the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) in the USA.