The health of your gums can give you a big clue about future heart problems. If your gums are in a bad way – and especially if you suffer from the gum disease periodontitis – you are far more likely to develop coronary heart disease later on.
There seems to be a link between gum infections and the development of atherosclerosis, where the arteries start furring up.
A study carried out by researchers at the university hospital in Marseille suggests that gum disease should be added to other known risk factors for heart problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, smoking and a poor diet.
The study results were presented to the European Society of Cardiology in Vienna.
(Source: Daily Telegraph, September 4, 2007).
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