At a conference in Dublin for the Society of General Microbiology, Dr. Howard Jenkinson of the University of Bristol, revealed that his research has found a link between poor dental hygiene and bleeding gums, and heart disease.
The discovery is somewhat surprising, in light of the fact that smoking, obesity, and elevated cholesterol levels all contribute to heart problems.
According to Dr. Jenkinson, bacteria in the mouth can lead to blood clots and bad circulation, increasing the risk of heart disease.