An NHS GP has called on Brits to adopt a straightforward habit to cut the risk of cardiovascular disease. Dr Amir Khan, a doctor renowned for dispensing health guidance across social platforms, made an appearance on ITV's Lorraine.

During his slot, he tackled various topics, including why maintaining proper dental hygiene through brushing and flossing matters so much. Remarkably, he explained that this was not merely crucial for keeping your mouth healthy, but for protecting your ticker too.

The explanation behind this is that when bacteria residing in our mouths manage to enter our bloodstream, they can trigger inflammation. How the body reacts to this can eventually 'increase your risk of heart problems and stroke'.

Dr Khan 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 around two minutes each time. This should be done with fluoride toothpaste to maintain healthy and clean gums and teeth.

It emphasises that brushing them just before bed is particularly crucial, but notes that electric or manual toothbrushes are 'equally good'.

• BBC Morning Live's Dr Punam Krishan gives emotional update six months after 'awful' cancer diagnosis

• Amir Khan fans rally around TV doctor after 'horrendous' incident

Regarding the connection between gum, tooth, and heart health, the East Midlands Congenital Heart Centre explains: "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, typically caused by an infection. It's uncommon but can be life-threatening and requires urgent treatment. This could occur during a dental procedure or through a cut or graze, for instance.

Anybody can develop endocarditis, but it's more prevalent 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 avoid this, Dr Khan advised: "So it is really important to look after your teeth and floss, honestly, flossing is so important every night."

The NHS states that flossing is not just about removing food trapped between your teeth, but also to reduce gum disease, tooth decay, and bad breath by eliminating plaque. The recommendation is to floss prior to brushing your teeth.

Interdental brushes can also be used for this purpose, particularly if there are spaces between your teeth. However, it's not recommended to use wooden toothpicks to dislodge food stuck between your teeth as this could harm your gums and potentially cause an infection.