Take a few extra minutes to brush after each meal and floss once a day, and you may not only save your teeth, you may save your life. Research shows that tooth and gum health are directly linked to the health of the body, and many diseases once thought to be irreversible may be alleviated by eliminating toxins and inflammation originating in the mouth.
Preventing gum disease (periodontitis), the leading cause of adult tooth loss, is gaining new urgency as research shows that gum disease can contribute to heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. The culprit, scientists believe, is bacteria from the mouth that leaks into the bloodstream.