Can Brushing Your Teeth Help Prevent Heart Disease?

We all know what to do — and what not to do — to prevent heart disease. Don‘t over eat salty or fatty foods. Get exercise and rest. Eat your vegetables. Take medications to prevent worsening of an existing condition.

But heart disease can also be managed if you remember one very important part of the daily regimen: brushing your teeth.

According to WebMD, studies show that regular brushing, a part of any oral care routine, can help to prevent heart disease. Here‘s how it works: the heart requires its own constant supply of oxygen and nutrients. If one of the two large, branching coronary arteries delivering oxygenated blood to the heart muscle becomes blocked, a portion of the heart is starved of oxygen, a condition called "cardiac ischemia." If cardiac ischemia lasts too long, the starved heart tissue dies. This is otherwise known as a heart attack.

Studies are beginning to show that oral health and gum disease are related to serious conditions like heart disease. According to the American Academy of Periodontology, people with periodontal disease are almost twice as likely to have coronary artery disease (also called heart disease). And one study found that the presence of common problems in the mouth, including gum disease (gingivitis), cavities, and missing teeth, were good at predicting heart disease.

So give your heart a break and brush your teeth and floss daily, and stay away from acidic, sugary foods. It‘s one of the only ways your mouth can actually talk to your heart — and have it listen.

For more information on the benefits of brushing your teeth, contact our Grosse Pointe dentists or call us at 313.882.4970.