How Is Tooth Brushing Connected to the Immune System?

An experiment conducted in a new BBC series demonstrates the impact of tooth brushing on the immune system.

Dr. Christopher Van Tulleken conducted the experiment on himself and was asked to wear a type of guard on one side of his mouth each time he brushed his teeth so that only one side was cleaned. After two weeks, he developed gingivitis. Blood tests revealed to researchers that the white blood cells, responsible for body defense, weakened against the infections created in the body and became ineffective.

Not just for fresh breath (Illustration: Shutterstock)

Dr. Van Tulleken explains that the body can handle a single infection, but with long-term infection, the immune system goes into overdrive and causes a chain reaction in the body. The damage is seen in how the white blood cells become less effective.

Chronic inflammation can also damage other cells in the body, such as organs and the circulatory system, and lead to the development of diseases like type 2 diabetes, heart diseases, Alzheimer's, stroke, and cancer.

This is one of the main reasons for the importance of tooth brushing. Dental health experts recommend spending two minutes brushing teeth and emphasize teaching children from a young age about the importance of this action for the health of their teeth and the body as a whole.