A doctor has issued a warning about the importance of brushing your teeth before bed, regardless of how exhausted you might be. Speaking on TikTok, Dr Neena Chandrasekaran, a specialist in pulmonary and critical care medicine, highlighted that neglecting this nightly routine could increase your risk of stroke and high blood pressure.
Using the handle @neenziemd, she revealed these are “things they don’t tell you” when it comes to dental hygiene. She elaborated: “Research now shows if you don’t brush your teeth before sleep, you’re at a higher risk of cardiovascular disease.
“This is because, at night, saliva reproduction slows down. This makes it less able to wash away the bacteria in our mouth, on our tongues and then this causes a buildup of bacteria, a buildup of plaque on the teeth and gums.”
This increases the risk of gum disease and cavities. Furthermore, she pointed out that the bacteria on our teeth and gums “are very easy to move to our arteries and bloodstream”. Because of this, it leads to bacteria in our vessels and our arteries leading to atherosclerosis, possible infection, toxins, inflammation”.
All of these factors can contribute to “strokes and high blood pressure”, emphasising that it’s “all connected”. Wrapping up her message, she stressed that while we’re often told to brush our teeth twice a day, many people underestimate just how crucial it is for our overall health.
What is atherosclerosis?
Atherosclerosis, according to the NHS, is where your arteries become narrowed. This makes it difficult for blood to flow through them and increases your risk of heart attack and stroke, as stated by the pulmonary doctor.
What are the symptoms of atherosclerosis?
You may not have any symptoms of atherosclerosis, but symptoms can include:
- chest pain
- pain in your arms and legs, especially when exercising
- feeling short of breath
- feeling tired all the time
- feeling weak
- feeling confused
Call 111 if:
- you have chest pain that comes and goes
- you feel short of breath
- you have pain in your arms and legs when walking or exercising
What causes atherosclerosis?
Things that increase your chances of getting atherosclerosis include:
- being over 65 years of age
- smoking
- having high cholesterol
- having high blood pressure
- having close relatives who have cardiovascular disease