Your oral hygiene and your heart health are closely connected, and this is a revelation that continues to be backed by clinical studies year upon year.

Arguably one of the most important health insights to emerge in recent years, it has helped medical professionals accentuate the need for good gum health to patients, in an effort to prevent heart disease and heart attacks.

So how are heart health and oral hygiene connected? And how can stepping up your oral care routine reduce your heart disease risk? Let’s dive in.

How are your mouth and your heart connected?

• Gum disease-causing bacteria infect the gums, causing gingivitis (mild gum disease) and eventually periodontitis (advanced gum disease).

• These bacteria travel to other sites within the body, causing arterial plaque – this is the hardening of the arteries that results in heart attacks.

• During the advanced stages of gum disease, plaque will be rife in the sufferer’s mouth. It’s probable that by this stage, it has caused teeth to become loose, gum recession, and most importantly, periodontal pockets in the gums have formed.

• These pockets give bacteria the perfect opportunity to settle underneath the gums. It’s from here that it can enter the bloodstream.

How do I reduce plaque to reduce my heart disease risk?

Reducing the plaque buildup in your mouth is far easier than you might think. Here are three key tips to help you cut down the plaque along your gum line:

Daily cleaning

Have a consistent daily routine of flossing and brushing your teeth that provides a solid defence against plaque build up. By removing bits of food stuck between your teeth, and cleaning your tooth surfaces thoroughly, you’re denying plaque the opportunity to settle and start the chain reaction of issues that eventually lead to advanced gum disease.

Hygienist appointments

No matter what your oral hygiene status or age, you should be attending the hygienist at least once a year. 

The fact that a third of Britons have never set foot at the hygienist could be a reason why gum disease remains the most predominant reason for premature tooth loss in England and Wales.

Even with excellent and consistent brushing (well done indeed if you’re doing this), there will still be some plaque accumulation along your gum line that has hardened and therefore can’t be removed with your brush or dental floss.

This is frustrating, but unfortunately, that’s just the way it goes – it’s a tenacious substance.

The hygienist will make sure every last bit of plaque is removed from your gum line every 6 to 12 months. If your lifestyle invites the build-up of heavy amounts of plaque (you smoke or consume lots of sugar-heavy food and drink), your hygienist may recommend coming in a little more often.

Alter your diet (cut down the sugar)

Modern diets are one of the biggest reasons why gum disease sets in. When plaque forms as a result of eating high-sugar foods, it clings to your tooth surfaces and causes inflammation of the gums, as well as bleeding and gum recession.

In reducing your intake of sugary foods (and sipping on water after each meal to wash away leftover food particles containing sugar in your mouth), you’re doing your mouth and your heart a big favour.

Key points to remember

• The plaque that gathers in your mouth is the same plaque that blocks your arteries and causes gum disease. You wouldn’t like the thought of it in your arteries, so don’t settle for having it in your mouth!

• Consistent brushing and flossing each day is a powerful defence against plaque buildup - even a few days off now and then can be enough to let plaque begin to affect your gum health (and as a consequence your heart health) beyond repair.

• Your routine hygienist appointments should be a staple of your oral hygiene routine. Consider them as important seeing your dentist.