Is Your Toothbrush a Ticking Time Bomb for Your Heart?

That worn-out toothbrush on your bathroom counter might seem harmless, but it could be a secret accomplice in a serious crime against your cardiovascular system. Health experts are highlighting a startling connection between a frayed brush and the development of atherosclerosis, or the hardening of your arteries.
The real villain is chronic inflammation, which starts in your gums. When your toothbrush is old, its bristles become ineffective. They can’t clean away the sticky film of bacteria known as plaque, leading to inflamed, unhealthy gums.
Your mouth is a complex ecosystem, home to hundreds of types of bacteria. When gums are inflamed or diseased, this protective barrier is breached. This allows harmful bacteria and the inflammatory proteins they produce to escape into your bloodstream, getting a free ride to other parts of your body.
Once in circulation, these microscopic invaders can contribute to inflammation within your arteries. They can lodge in the arterial walls, helping to build the very plaque that narrows and stiffens these critical blood vessels, leading directly to heart disease.
Protecting your heart can start with a simple, inexpensive habit. Make it a rule to discard your old toothbrush every three months. A new, effective brush is your first line of defense against the oral inflammation that threatens your entire circulatory system.