Protect Your Heart by Taking Care of Your Teeth

The mouth is home to a greater variety of bacteria than any other place in the body. Many of these bacteria contribute to infections throughout the body, including heart infections. If you do not keep your mouth clean with good dental hygiene habits and regular dental care, the number and variety of bacteria can swell considerably. A study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association in 2008 sought to find how fast these bacteria travel from your mouth through the blood stream. The bottom line is that whether it is just brushing your teeth or having an invasive dental procedure, within 5 minutes the bacteria stirred up in the process can be found throughout your body and may still be found up to an hour later. Cleaner teeth mean fewer bacteria to spread through your body.