Brush your Teeth for Heart Health

Did you know that there is a direct correlation between brushing your teeth and heart health?

Well if you didn’t know then I am going to tell you now.

When you brush your teeth you are probably thinking that you want to have white teeth and clean smelling breathe and healthy gums.

I am sure you don’t brush your teeth thinking you better do a good job because you want to have a healthy heart.

Studies suggest that people who do not brush at least two times a day are possibly more susceptible to heart disease than people who brush two or more times a day.

There was a Scottish study performed with more than 11,000 people that helps to link gum disease with heart problems. Of course there is more to good heart health than making sure you brush your pearly whites at least two times a day.

The fact is that if you do not brush your teeth and your mouth ends up becoming infected with bacteria your gums will become inflamed and inflammation in the body and or mouth has a big part in the build up of clogged arteries which as you are probably aware can easily lead to a heart attack.

The way that it works is that when people with periodontal disease brush their teeth the tooth brushing releases the heart damaging bacteria into their bloodstream.

Several forms of bacteria that cause gum disease have also been found in the plaque in arteries of the heart.  That plaque can build up over time which causes atherosclerosis and that my friend leads to a heart attack.  

Researchers inform that when taking into account all of the other factors that affect heart disease risk such as obesity, poor diet, not exercising, smoking, family history and so on that the people that had the worst oral hygiene had up to a 70% higher chance of developing heart disease than those who brushed their teeth at least twice a day.

It is also important to note that those who had poor oral hygiene tested positive in their blood samples for a protein called C-reactive which is suggestive of inflammation.  

The liver releases C-reactive protein after your gums swell from periodontal disease and bacterial by products enter the bloodstream.  

The higher your level of C-reactive protein the higher the chances of a heart attack.

Some things you can do to help your heart health are things like eating a healthier diet, starting a regular exercise program, stop smoking, lose weight and my favourite thing to do to help with keeping my gums healthy is to not only brush my teeth twice or more a day but to floss once a day.

If you cannot seem to floss once a day, then floss once every other day as long as you make the effort. Another benefit to having healthy gums that I have not mentioned yet is that your breathe is less likely to be stinky.

There is nothing worse than talking to someone who is breathing stinky breathe on you. Do yourself a favour and start brushing at least twice a day and include flossing in your fight for heart health.

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