Dirty mouths, unhappy hearts

EYES may be the windows to the soul but the mouth is the doorway to the heart according to dentists, who warn that neglect of dental health can store up cardiac complaints.

A public forum last night heard the average Irish mouth is home to 400 species of bacteria, which coat teeth, tongue and gums at a rate of one billion bacteria per square centimetre.

Dr Paul O’Reilly of the Dublin Dental Hospital said this made it essential to keep mouths clean and healthy.