• Healthy State
  • Careers
  • Education
  • Research
  • Giving
Ochsner Health Ochsner Health
  • About
  • Find A Doctor (current)
  • Find A Location
  • Specialties & Treatments
MyOchsner Logo
Login | Signup
Submit Search magnifying glass icon
Close Search X icon
  •   Home
  • In To Your Health...
  • Food & Fitness
  • Conditions & Treatment
  • Health Trends
  • Prevention & Wellness
  • Women's Health
  • Men's Health
  • Mental Health
  • Parenting
  • I need to...
  • Find A Doctor
  • Find A Location
  • Find A Specialty
  • Schedule An Appointment
  • Pay A Bill
  • Explore
  • About Ochsner
  • Careers
  • Patients & Visitors
  • "To Your Health" Blog
  • Health Resources
  • Medical Professionals
  • Education
  • Philanthropy
  • Community Outreach
  • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
  • Research
  • Ochsner Health Network
  • Schedule an Appointment
  • Call: 1-866-624-7637
  • Online: Login to MyOchsner
  • Personalize your content
  • patient Edit Persona Persona Chooser
To Your Health

View Newsletter Editions
  • Food & Fitness
  • Conditions & Treatment
  • Health Trends
  • Prevention & Wellness
  • Women's Health
  • Men's Health
  • Mental Health
  • Parenting
Man brushing teeth

Does Good Oral Hygiene Mean a Healthier Heart?

Feb 24, 2020 |
By Thanh Nguyen, MD
Share Facebook Logo Twitter Logo Pinterest Logo Email Logo

When it comes to keeping our hearts healthy, we think of lots of things: Exercise. A healthy diet. Avoiding cigarettes. Lowering stress levels. But did you know you should add good oral hygiene to the list?

A new study by the European Society of Cardiology, published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, shows that brushing teeth frequently is linked to lower risks of atrial fibrillation (a quivering or irregular heartbeat that can lead to blood clots, stroke and other heart-related complications) and heart failure.

You may have heard about research in the past that showed poor oral hygiene can lead to heart problems, because of increased bacteria in the bloodstream that increases inflammation in the body. Inflammation can lead to heart-related complications.

In fact, a previous study showed that those who said they brushed less than twice a day for less than two minutes had a three-fold increased risk of serious heart problems compared to those who said they brushed at least twice a day for at least two minutes.

In the new study by the European Society of Cardiology, nearly 200,000 study participants ages 40-79 with no history of serious heart disease underwent a routine physical exam in 2003 and 2004, and they were asked about their tooth-brushing habits. Researchers followed up with the participants 10 years later. Three percent of the participants had developed atrial fibrillation, and 5% had experienced heart failure.

According to the study, there was a significant difference between those who did and did not have good oral hygiene. Those who brushed their teeth three times a day or more had a 10 percent lower risk of atrial fibrillation and a 12 percent lower risk of heart failure.

Researchers theorize that brushing your teeth frequently reduces bacteria in the subgingival biofilm (the gunk living in the pocket between your teeth and gums). Removing that bacteria prevents it from entering your bloodstream.

How do you know you’re brushing your teeth the right way to get rid of that bacteria? The American Dental Association has some tips:

*Place your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the gums

*Gently move the brush back and forth in short strokes

*Brush the outer surfaces, the inner surfaces and the chewing surfaces of the teeth.

*To clean the inside surfaces of the front teeth, tilt the brush vertically and make several up-and-down strokes.

*Don’t forget the spots between your teeth that a toothbrush can’t reach. The American Dental Association urges you to clean between your teeth at least once a day with floss or other “interdental’’ cleaners, such as dental floss picks, pre-threaded flossers, tiny brushes that reach between the teeth and water flossers. Talk to your dental hygienist about which is the best choice for your teeth.

So if you just step up your tooth-brushing game, is that all you need to do to protect your heart health? Definitely not.

You still need to pay attention to your diet (low in junk food and sodium, high in fruits, vegetables and other healthy foods); exercise several days a week (try taking a walk after dinner every night); avoid bad habits (take advantage of the free services we offer at the Ochsner Smoking Cessation Clinic); and get regular checkups with your doctor.

Schedule an appointment with Dr. Thanh Nguyen and learn more about heart health at Ochsner.org/HeartMonth.


Tags
teeth
cardiology

You may also be interested in:

Heart
Food & Fitness
August 5, 2022

Heart-Healthy Diet: 6 Tips

Fruits and vegetables, whole grains and limited sodium intake are some of the best ways to fight heart disease.
By William Bennett, MD, PhD
Kid with Heart
Conditions & Treatment
August 5, 2022

What is Single Ventricle Congenital Heart Disease?

Single ventricle heart disease is when one side of the heart does not form properly in utero. There are many variations of single ventricle heart disease.
By Jessica Mouledoux, MD
Woman engaging in heart healthy activities
Food & Fitness
August 5, 2022

4 Tips For A Heart-Healthy Life

The path to a healthier heart begins with you. Follow these simple lifestyle tips to give your heart a little extra love.
By Pavan Malur, MD

email envelop icon Comments about the blog? Send us an email!

Ochsner Health

Schedule An Appointment: 1-866-624-7637

Follow us: Facebook Follow Ochsner Health on TikTok Twitter Follow Ochsner Health on Twitter LinkedIn Visit Ochsner Health's LinkedIn page Instagram Follow Ochsner Health on Instagram YouTube Subscribe to Ochsner Health on YouTube Pinterest Follow Ochsner Health on Pinterest TikTok Follow Ochsner Health on TikTok

Healthy living tips newsletters, delivered to your inbox.

Sign Up

Patients & Visitors

  • Billing & Financial Services
  • Insurance Information
  • International Patients
  • Request Medical Records
  • Share Your Story
  • Read Patient Stories

Medical Professionals

  • Transfer a Patient
  • Refer a Patient

Health Resources

  • To Your Health Blog
  • Golden Opportunity
  • Healthy State
  • Ochsner Magazine

Job Seekers

  • Career Paths
  • Benefits
  • Open Positions

Employees

  • Webmail
  • OHSLink
  • Workday

Employers

  • Corporate Wellness
  • Medicare Advantage Plans

Community Outreach

  • Classes & Events
  • Programs
  • Community Health Needs Assessment
  • Dr. John Ochsner Discovery Health Sciences Academy

Education

  • Graduate Medical Education
  • Clinical Medical Education
  • Continuing Medical Education
  • Medical Library
  • Publishing Services
  • Medical Illustrations

Research

  • Clinical Trials
  • Applied Health Services Research
  • Clinical Research & Trials
  • Nursing Research
  • Translational Research

Giving

  • Donate
  • Volunteer

About Ochsner

  • Mission & Vision
  • History
  • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
  • Annual Report
  • Outcomes & Honors
  • News & Media
  • Alumni
  • Ochsner Health Network
  • Contact Us

Shop

  • O Bar
  • Optical Shop
  • Ochsner Fitness Center
  • Brent House Hotel

© Ochsner Health  | Notice of Privacy Practices | Terms of Use | Vendor Information

Ochsner accepts all major insurances.

Ochsner is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization, founded on providing the best patient care, research, and education.

We are one of the country’s largest non-university based academic medical centers.

Ochsner is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, disability or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

Community Needs Health Assessment

EpicMobile Tablet | EpicMobile Phone

newsletter icon

Subscribe to Our Newsletters

newsletter icon

Select the newsletters you'd like to receive.

Please select at least one category to continue.

Curious about our newsletters?

View details for each edition
newsletter icon

Let us know where to send your newsletters.

To Your Health- Food and Fitness:
To Your Health- General:
To Your Health- Men’s Health:
To Your Health- Parenting:
To Your Health- Women’s Health:
To Your Health-Mental Health Monthly":
To Your Health- Skin Deep:

Source:
Source Description:
Marketing Goal:
newsletter icon

You're all set!

We’ll send newsletters full of healthy living tips right to your inbox.

Ochsner Health System
magnifying glass icon
ESC to Close

Begin Typing to Search

Select the drop-down to filter Search by Blog Articles or Sitewide