Did you know putting your oral health on the back burner sets your whole body up for disaster?
That’s right.
Poor oral hygiene can lead to serious consequences for your health—from bone loss and blood clots, to high blood pressure, and much more.
That’s why it’s so important to brush regularly and make routine dentist appointments.
Research finds that regularly indulging in junk food could be sabotaging your oral health… and could even lead to a FATAL condition.
Let me explain.
Too much junk food linked to heart disease
According to a recent study from researchers at the University of Buffalo, regularly indulging in junk food could ultimately lead to heart disease—the No.1 cause of death worldwide.
For the study, researchers took subgingival (under the gums) plaque samples from over 1,200 postmenopausal women.
(Researchers said these types of samples are important because the oral bacteria involved in periodontal disease—which also has links to heart disease and is caused by poor oral hygiene—typically reside in the subgingival plaque.)
They found eating too much junk food was associated with the growth of certain bacteria strains that are linked to gingivitis, tooth decay, and even different forms of heart disease.
This is quite scary—especially if you have a sweet tooth.
The importance of brushing
The good news is, defying these odds could be as easy as regular brushing. But while your dentist might be satisfied with brushing twice a day, research suggests that the magic number is closer to three.
In another study, researchers recruited more than 160,000 people between the ages of 40- and 79-years-old.
The goal was to look at the connection between tooth brushing and two major cardiovascular killers—atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat) and heart failure.
After more than a decade of follow-up, the researchers found those who brushed their teeth three or more times a day had a 10 percent lower risk of atrial fibrillation and a 12 percent lower risk of heart failure.
It’s also worth noting that these benefits were independent of a whole host of other factors—like age, sex, exercise habits, body mass index (BMI), and even comorbid conditions like high blood pressure.
However, this was an observational study. Meaning it can’t prove that tooth brushing directly reduces heart risk—or the risk of any disease, for that matter.
But there’s certainly a good case to be made for that conclusion.
And I must say… even I’m impressed by the difference just a little extra brushing made.
So, keep your toothbrush and non-fluoride toothpaste handy… and brush after eating (or as often as you can)—at least three times a day. And especially if you regularly indulge in sugary or carb-laden treats.
Until next week,
Dr. Fred
P.S. For additional ways to naturally protect your heart health, check out my Ultimate Heart-Protection Protocol. To learn more about this innovative, online learning tool—or to enroll today—click here now.
Source:
“Eating junk food may grow bacteria involved in tooth decay and gum disease.” Study Finds, 05/02/2022. (studyfinds.org/junk-food-bacteria-gum-disease/)