If you’re concerned about hardened arteries, one of the first places you should check is your toothbrush. It sounds strange, but dental experts insist that the state of your brush is directly linked to the inflammatory processes that cause atherosclerosis.
Here’s the connection: An old, frayed brush can’t properly clean your teeth. This allows bacterial plaque to accumulate, which in turn causes your gums to become chronically inflamed.
This inflammation in your mouth is not an isolated issue. It’s a breach in your body’s defenses. It creates an opening for the 700 species of bacteria in your mouth to enter your bloodstream.
Once circulating, these bacteria and the inflammatory proteins they trigger can travel to your arteries. They can then contribute to the buildup of plaque within the arterial walls, causing them to stiffen and narrow.
This is why people with periodontitis (severe gum disease) are at a much higher risk for heart disease. The simplest defense is to replace your toothbrush every 90 days, ensuring it remains an effective tool against plaque.