The expert warned that skipping an important nightly ritual could increase your chances of heart disease.
A doctor has issued an urgent warning about brushing your teeth, claiming that failing to do so could put you at risk of a serious health condition. According to the expert skipping this vital hygiene routine can increase your chances of cardiovascular disease.
Various scientific studies have theorised that this is linked to bacteria from the mouth that can enter the bloodstream and cause inflammation. Speaking on social media platform Instagram, Doctor Kunal Sood, explained more.
Responding to another content creator’s video, in which she said, “If you don’t brush your teeth before sleep, you are at a higher risk of cardiovascular disease,” he urged people to brush their teeth three times a day.
Dr Sood said: “If you skip brushing your teeth at night, you might be doing more than just risking cavities. Research suggests that poor oral hygiene is linked to a higher risk of heart disease and heart failure.
“The theory is that bacteria from a mouth can enter your bloodstream triggering inflammation that affects your heart over time.” He referenced some studies, including one published in Scientific Reports journal in 2023.
In this, a total of 1,675 participants were divided into four groups: one group that brush teeth after waking up and at night, one that brush their teeth at night but not upon waking up, one that brush teeth after waking up but not at night, and one that do not brush their teeth at all.
The first two groups, which brush their teeth at night, had “significantly higher survival estimates” than the others.
Study authors concluded: “We suggest that brushing teeth at night is important for lowering cardiovascular disease risk.” Dr Sood continued: “While scientists have not proven that bad oral hygiene directly causes heart disease, they have found a strong connection.
“People who brush more often tend to have healthier hearts. Studies show that brushing at least three times a day and are getting regular dental cleaning are linked to a lower risk of heart disease.”
Another study, published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology in 2019, found that brushing teeth frequently is linked with lower risks of atrial fibrillation and heart failure. Scientists theorised that frequent tooth brushing reduces bacteria in the pocket between the teeth and gums, therefore preventing it moving to the bloodstream and to the heart.
However, study authors clarified that more research is needed. They said: “While the role of inflammation in the occurrence of cardiovascular disease is becoming more and more evident, intervention studies are needed to define strategies of public health importance.”
Dr Sood added: “Also gum disease, missing teeth, and poor oral care have been associated with higher cardiovascular risk. Keeping up with your oral hygiene is one of the easiest way to support your heart health.”
If you are concerned about your oral health you should speak to your dentist.
