Open your mouth and say ahh for heart health

Smiles are contagious. They can stop someone in their tracks and make them fall in love (or so a million songs say), and a good smile might also be good for your heart.  

We all want to live a long, healthy life, and as heart disease is the leading cause of death globally each year, we need to do all we can to keep our hearts ticking. Of course, heart health starts with exercise, eating healthy and getting plenty of rest. You might not know that some research shows a healthy mouth is good for your heart too. 

The research isn’t conclusive. However, multiple studies infer good oral hygiene is beneficial for your heart and other health factors. According to Harvard Health, one theory of why a healthy mouth is important for a healthy heart is the bacteria that causes gingivitis can move through the body, causing inflammation and tiny blood clots.  

A 2018 study in Hypertension stated gum disease can raise your blood pressure and prevent blood pressure medicine from working properly.  

Regardless of which side of the research you believe, oral hygiene is something to take seriously. In case you need to brush up on proper techniques, we gathered the tips below from the American Dental Association. 

• Brush your teeth at least twice a day for two minutes at a time. 
• Replace your toothbrush every three to four months, or sooner if the toothbrush looks damaged 
• Hold the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the gums 
• Gently brush back and forth in tooth-wide strokes 
• Brush the rest of your mouth 
• Floss once a day 
• Visit your dentist regularly