Your old toothbrush isn’t just failing to remove plaque; it might be actively contributing to the plaque that builds up in your arteries. This is the stark warning from experts connecting oral health to atherosclerosis.
The mechanism is inflammation. A toothbrush with frayed, splayed bristles leaves behind bacterial plaque on the teeth. This causes the gums to become chronically inflamed.
This inflammation is the bridge from your mouth to your heart. It compromises the gum tissue, allowing harmful bacteria and inflammatory molecules to escape into your circulation.
Once in the bloodstream, these agents can travel to the arteries. They are a known factor in the development of arterial plaque, the waxy substance that hardens and narrows blood vessels.
This is why individuals with untreated gum disease are at such a high risk—nearly double—for heart problems. The first step in breaking this cycle is to replace your “plaque-building” old brush with a new one every three months.
