Did you know your mouth impacts cardiovascular health, even if you eat healthy, exercise daily, and don’t smoke?
- In the US, someone has a heart attack every 40 seconds.
- Every year, about 805,000 people in the US have a heart attack.
- In 2025, the leading cause of death in the US is projected to remain cardiovascular disease, according to data from the American Heart Association.
Men 45 and older and women 55 and older are more likely to have a heart attack.
Eating well, exercising, avoiding smoking, and doing daily breathing drills are essential. However, many miss one of the foundational contributors to heart disease – your mouth’s health!
What does our mouth have to do with cardiovascular health?
In the 1930s, nutritionist Dr. Weston Price conducted extensive research and found that dental health strongly correlates with physical health, especially the heart. A mouth full of diseases was linked to chronic and degenerative diseases in the body.
In the 1950s, forward-thinking doctors also recognized the connection between oral and systemic health. They discovered that the plaque in the arteries and brain has the same bacteria as in our mouth. This makes a clear connection that oral microbes, biofilm, and plaque do not stay confined in the mouth.
According to the American Heart Association, 50% of cardiac events can be linked to oral bacteria!
- Of the 100 billion microbial cells in the body, 20 billion live in the mouth.
- Over 700 species of microbes live in the mouth
When biofilm (AKA plaque) is a problem in the mouth, it can lead to plaque in the arteries and brain. Furthermore, when unhealthy microbes establish themselves, they reseed in the mouth repeatedly.
If you don’t address the plaque biofilm, it regrows. Teeth, implants, and dental products like braces, dentures, and retainers provide a non-shedding surface for biofilms to thrive.
5 Easy Steps to Address the Issue:
- Correct toothpaste
- The basic recommendation is to use toothpaste without fluoride and use both micro-hydroxyapatite (which is common) and nano-hydroxyapatite (which is not common but is most effective for penetrating the deepest). Hydroxyapatite is a calcium phosphate mineral that makes up your teeth, specifically enamel. Micro-hydroxyapatite is larger particles that mimic tooth enamel, and nano-hydroxyapatite is ultra-fine particles designed to penetrate deep in the enamel.
- We recommend Dentalmin Pro for remineralizing, cleaning, and whitening.
- For those struggling with receding gums, periodontal disease, or gingivitis, the recommendation is Dentalcidin Oral Care System.
- Gum Floss Picks
- We all know flossing is essential; we need to do it consistently. Our dentist recommended Gum Floss picks to get into tight areas in addition to dental floss. That has been helpful with eating more meat on our carnivore-type diet.
- Regularly Wash Your Toothbrush!
- The image below on the left is one bristle of a toothbrush. Toothbrushes average 2500 bristles. This is the accumulation of plaque and biofilms on your toothbrush!
- The recommendation is to replace it every 3 months and wash it weekly.
- To wash, you can use food-grade hydrogen peroxide overnight. You can also purchase ultrasonic cleaners, especially if you have a mouthguard or devices. Our dentist said those in the $40-50 range are as effective as the more expensive ones.
- Non-lanolin-based Vitamin D
- Lanolin-based Vitamin D is not absorbed by the teeth (or bones). It is cheap and the source of most Vitamin D. Our recommendation is LongeviDK2.
- Avoid all oral products with fluoride, dyes/artificial colors, and harsh chemicals!