Women age 44 and older who receive regular dental care at least once every two years have a 33% risk reduction for heart attacks and strokes¹.

"Many studies have found associations between dental care and cardiovascular disease, but our study is the first to show that general dental care leads to fewer heart attacks, strokes, and other adverse cardiovascular outcomes in a causal way," said study lead author Timothy Brown, assistant adjunct professor of health policy and management at UC Berkeley's School of Public Health.

A considerable body of science paints a very clear picture that hostile mouth germs readily enter your circulation and cause platelets to stick together as a defense mechanism. Platelets literally surround the bacteria, creating a barrier but at the same time setting up a pre-clotting condition. This problem may be somewhat worse for women than men as was shown in this study, as women suffer more of these circulation-type heart attacks and strokes and men are more likely to have a problem of plaque rupturing from their arteries. However, a great deal of science shows this issue is very important for both sexes.

Regular flossing and dental hygiene along with regular teeth cleanings at the dentist (and solving any other more significant issue) are part of a common sense health plan to increase your length of life.