Why? It turns out the bacteria known to cause gum disease also causes thickening of blood vessel walls. People with chronic gum disease have four times more carotid artery plaque deposits, a significant cause of stroke, than people with good oral health.
What should you do?
Brush your teeth and floss.
Seriously, you are supposed to do it anyway. Do a good job and protect your heart.
Make friends with your dentist. Be brave! See your dentist at least once per year, twice is better!
Tell your dentist if you have heart disease and what medications you may be taking. With the right information your dentist may be able to spot problems before they start. Also, heart attack symptoms in women my be disguised as jaw or tooth pain. If your dentist doesn't find anything wrong, don't ignore the symptoms!
Find more tips and strategies in Eliz's new book The Busy Woman's Guide to a Healthy Heart or on her award winning blog at www.EmbraceYourHeart.com.