Not brushing your teeth at night may increase your risk of cardiovascular disease, according to a new study published in the journal Scientific Reports. Japanese researchers studied a group of 1675 people aged 20 and older who were hospitalized for surgery, evaluation, or other medical treatments, and found that brushing teeth after waking up and at bedtime was associated with fewer cardiovascular events and better overall survival rates.
The subjects were divided into four groups: Group MN (brushing teeth after waking up and at night), Group Night (brushing teeth only at night), Group M (brushing teeth only in the morning), and Group None (not brushing teeth at all). Within each group, researchers also noted whether subjects were smokers or nonsmokers, and prognosis at the time of hospitalization.
Unsurprisingly, smokers who never brushed their teeth had the worst health outcomes among all study participants, with the lowest survival probability compared to non-smokers and smokers who brushed their teeth at least once each day. Among nonsmokers, those who never brushed were much less likely to survive cardiovascular events, and nonsmokers who brushed twice a day or just at night had significantly higher overall survival probability than those who only brushed in the morning or not at all.
The study joins a mounting body of evidence that links poor oral hygiene and periodontal disease with conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and dementia. According to the New York Times, some scientists believe that periodontal bacteria may travel to the arteries and contribute to the development of vascular diseases. Other studies have found that better oral hygiene practices, including brushing twice a day and regular flossing, are associated with lower rates of heart disease.
