A new research said that brushing teeth twice daily lessens the risk for developing heart disease.

Earlier, researchers have found that swelling in the body, including mouth and gums, plays an important role in the build up of clogged arteries.

But the newest research found whether the number of times individuals brush their teeth has any bearing on the risk of developing heart disease.

The authors, led by Richard Watt, professor from University College London, viewed facts from more than 11,000 adults who participated in the Scottish Health Survey.

The research team examined data on lifestyle behaviours like smoking, physical activity and oral health routines.

Partakers were asked how often they visited the dentist and how often they brushed their teeth.

On a separate visit, nurses amassed data on medical and family history of heart disease, blood pressure and blood samples from consenting adults.

The samples permitted the researchers to check levels of inflammation that were present in the body. The data gathered from the interviews were linked to hospital admissions and deaths in Scotland until December 2007, said a University College London release.

The results showed that oral health behaviour was generally good with 62% of participants saying they visit the dentist every six months and 71% reporting that they brush their teeth twice a day.

The results were published in the British Medical Journal. (With Inputs from Agencies)