Only brushing your teeth on a morning can increase your risk of cardiovascular disease, a new study has revealed. Researchers at the Osaka University Hospital in Japan studied 1,675 patients over a three-year period, found that those who only brush on a morning, as well as those who failed to brush whatsoever, were worse off than those who brush on a night.
The patients, who were all aged 20 and over, were split into four groups based on their oral hygiene habits - people who brushed twice a day, those who only brushed on a morning, those who only did it at night, and those who never bothered whatsoever.
The patients, who visited the hospital between April 2013 and March 2016 for examination, surgery, or treatment, also allowed their age, gender, smoking history, dental and medical records to be taking into consideration during the study.
Read more: Five things you need to know about 'silent killer' unknowingly affecting one in four people
The Mirror reports that the results - which were published in Nature's journal Scientific Reports - found that non-smokers who only brush on a morning, as well as those who never brush at all, were given the worst prognosis when hospitalised due to a cardiovascular health issue. In-turn, those brushing twice daily, and only at night, had higher rates of survival.
The Sun reports that the author of the study, said: "The findings clearly indicate that only brushing in the morning after waking up is inadequate and that brushing at night is good to maintain good health. Although our findings are limited to cardiovascular diseases and cannot be applied to healthy individuals, they indicate that brushing teeth at night is important.
"To prevent cardiovascular diseases, brushing teeth before breakfast is necessary, but most important is brushing teeth at night before going to bed."
The report summarised that lingering bacteria in the mouth is the most likely cause of inflammation throughout the body, which can have a knock on effect and lead to serious health problems such as cardiovascular disease. The news lands after the Harvard School of Public Health encouraged others to drink four common fruit drinks to reduce heart disease.
The health body said that it is vital people consume foods and drinks which are high in potassium, with the mineral working to remove excess sodium from the body. This is a substance which of course raises blood pressure. The body, said: "Sodium and potassium are two interrelated minerals that play major roles in regulating blood pressure and a healthy heart.
"Eating less salty foods and more potassium-rich foods may significantly lower the risk of cardiovascular disease. Potassium is found in many foods, especially fruits, vegetables, legumes, and low-fat dairy. But eating a lot of sodium-rich foods especially from processed breads, packaged snacks, canned goods, and fast-food meals while skimping on potassium can increase cardiovascular disease risk."
