Dr Amir Khan appeared on ITV’s Lorraine to share some health advice
A leading NHS TV GP has highlighted a straightforward habit that could significantly improve cardiovascular wellbeing if done every night before bed. Dr Amir Khan, who is renowned for dispensing medical advice across social platforms, made an appearance on ITV’s Lorraine programme.
During the segment, he tackled a number of health matters, placing particular emphasis on the vital role of brushing and flossing teeth. Crucially, he explained this practice extends far beyond maintaining a healthy smile – it’s equally essential for protecting the heart.
The connection lies in preventing oral bacteria from entering the bloodstream, where they trigger inflammatory responses. This bodily reaction can consequently ‘increase your risk of heart problems and stroke’.
Dr Khan said flossing could make a major difference if done every day. He said: “So the mouth is full of blood vessels and it’s also at risk of gum disease and ulcers. Now, there’s bacteria that live in our mouth, as long as they stay there, they might not cause any major issues, but if they get into the bloodstream, what they can do is cause inflammation within our blood vessels, which is a bad thing, but they can also build upon fatty plaque, so they get stuck on these fatty plaques.
“The immune system recognises these bacteria as foreign and invasive, so it mounts a whole attack on them. That attack can loosen that fatty plaque that’s just been sitting on your artery wall. Off it goes, and then it can get stuck somewhere and that can increase your risk of heart problems and stroke.”
The NHS recommends brushing your teeth twice daily for approximately two minutes each time, using fluoride toothpaste to maintain healthy gums and teeth, reports Lancs Live. It emphasises that brushing last thing at night is particularly crucial, whilst noting that electric and manual toothbrushes are ‘equally good’.
Regarding the connection between dental, gum and heart health, the East Midlands Congenital Heart Centre states: “The teeth and the heart share the same blood. This means the same germs (bacteria) that can lead to cavities in teeth can travel to the heart. They can cause a dangerous infection called infective endocarditis.
This is an infection of the lining of the heart. Endocarditis is inflammation of the inner lining inside your heart, usually caused by an infection.
It’s rare but can be life-threatening and needs urgent treatment. This could be during a dental procedure or through a cut or graze, for example. Anyone can get endocarditis, but it’s more common in men and people over 50. You have a higher risk of getting endocarditis if you:
- have heart valve disease, an artificial heart valve, or a pacemaker or implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD)
- have certain conditions, like some types of congenital heart disease or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
- have had a heart transplant or endocarditis before
- work closely with farm animals
- inject illegal drugs
To prevent this, Dr Khan said: “So it is really important to look after your teeth and floss, honestly, flossing is so important every night.”
The NHS highlights that flossing serves a greater purpose than simply removing trapped food, also helping to dramatically reduce gum disease, tooth decay and bad breath through the elimination of plaque. The guidance recommends flossing prior to brushing your teeth.
Interdental brushes can serve the same purpose — particularly where there are spaces between teeth — however, dental experts advise against using wooden toothpicks to dislodge trapped food particles, as doing so risks damaging the gums and potentially triggering an infection.
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