Better Teeth, Better Heart

While the medical community seems to be clear there is a link between healthy teeth and healthy hearts, I'm not so sure all of us know this.

According to a recent article on CNN, acute gum disease increases the amount of hs-CRP in the bloodstream, which is a natural response to inflammation caused by injury or infection. And the hs-CRP may signal an increased risk for heart attacks.

Scientists are also looking at mouth bacteria as another possible link between gum disease and heart disease.

The article quoted Dr. Steven Offenbacher, a University of North Carolina research professor who has studied the link for the past 15 years, that there is a lot of evidence to suggest that inflammation can be a hidden killer.

That's enough for me -- I'll start bringing my toothbrush to work!