Maintain a good dental health to reduce your risk of heart disease. People with gum disease are twice as likely to have coronary artery disease.

A study found that the presence of common problems in the mouth, including gum disease (gingivitis), cavities, and missing teeth, were as good at predicting heart disease as cholesterol levels. 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.