Professional Teeth Cleaning Tied to Lower Risk of Heart Attack, Stroke

People who make it a point to get in the dentist's chair at least once a year will be rewarded with more than just pearly whites, according to a new study. Researchers in Taiwan found that those who have their teeth professionally scraped and cleaned have a 24 percent lower risk of heart attack and 13 percent lower risk of stroke compared to those who never had a dental cleaning.

The reason? Professional cleanings reduce inflammation-causing bacterial growth that can lead to heart disease.

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