You would never think of your toothbrush as an enemy. But if it’s old and frayed, it might be working against your heart’s health. Experts are linking old toothbrushes to atherosclerosis, the dangerous hardening of arteries.
The connection is not direct, but it is powerful. It’s all about inflammation. When a worn-out brush fails to remove plaque, the gums become chronically inflamed.
This inflammation is more than just a local problem. Your mouth is home to 700 types of bacteria. When gums are inflamed, they provide an escape route for these bacteria and their byproducts to get into your blood.
Once in the bloodstream, this bacterial “shrapnel” can travel to your cardiovascular system. There, it can contribute to the inflammation and plaque buildup in your arteries, which is the direct cause of atherosclerosis.
This systemic infection is why those with untreated gum disease have nearly double the risk of heart disease. The solution? Demote your toothbrush from “enemy” to “ally” by replacing it every three months.