A doctor has warned that you need to brush your teeth before bed, no matter how tired you are. Talking on TikTok, Dr Neena Chandrasekaran, a specialist in pulmonary and critical care medicine, said that if you don’t, you increase your risk of stroke and high blood pressure.
Under the username @neenziemd, she said that these are “things they don’t tell you” when it comes to your teeth. She explains: “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.”
Because of this, it put you more at risk of gum disease and cavities. The doctor further explains 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 this can cause “strokes and high blood pressure” stressing that the it’s “all connected”. Concluding her message, she says that although we’re told brushing our teeth twice a day is key, many people don’t realise just how important it is for our overall health too.
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