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Not brushing after eating causes more than halitosis. A new study finds that the bacteria can seep into the blood, which causes inflammation in the body.

You’re not brushing your teeth enough. Three times a day keeps the heart attack away

[Photo: PublicDomainPictures/Pixabay]

BY Arianne Cohen

Time to start packing a to-go toothbrush. It turns out that not brushing after eating causes more than halitosis. The bacteria can seep into the blood, which causes inflammation in the body. Now comes the first large-scale, long-term study connecting that poor oral hygiene to tangible health consequences, published in the European Journal of Preventative Cardiology.

Subgingival biofilm (green). [Photo: Apola/iStock]
Researchers looked at the healthcare records of 161,286 South Korean adults ages 40-79 and found that those who brushed three or more times a day had a 12% lower risk of heart failure and a 10% lower risk of atrial fibrillation over the next decade. The results stood even after controlling for a raft of other traits such as wealth, exercise, weight, substance use, and health conditions.

Though the study does not explain why, researchers hypothesize that frequent toothbrushing lowers bacteria rates in the crevices between the teeth and gums, known as the “subgingival biofilm.” That prevents the bacteria from seeping into the bloodstream.

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Also, don’t cancel your dental cleanings. Regular dental cleanings were also associated with better cardiovascular health.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Arianne Cohen is a journalist who has appeared frequently in Fast Company, Bloomberg Businessweek, The Guardian, The New York Times, and Vogue. More


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