It’s a connection that might surprise you: the frayed bristles on your toothbrush are linked to the stiffening of your arteries. Health experts are urging the public to take this oral-systemic link seriously.
The core of the issue is atherosclerosis, a dangerous cardiovascular condition. The cause is inflammation, which can originate in your mouth.
When toothbrush bristles are worn, they can’t remove the bacterial plaque that causes gum disease. This leads to chronic inflammation of the gums.
This inflammation creates a pathway for oral bacteria (all 700 species of them) to “leak” into your bloodstream. This seeds your entire body with a low-grade infection.
This systemic inflammation is a major contributor to the plaque that builds up in arteries. This is why people with gum disease are at a much higher risk for heart problems. The simple fix? A new brush every 90 days.