Keep your teeth healthy for a healthy heart. The bacteria that cause gum infections can lead to or worsen atherosclerosis, thereby causing heart diseases.

A study published by the American Heart Association Journal Circulation found that people with the highest level of the bacteria that cause gum disease also had the worst atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). This is because certain disease-causing bacteria in the mouth can enter the bloodstream through the gums and stick to the fatty plaques in the bloodstream, directly contributing to blockages leading to a stroke.