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Times Life
Times Life
Aishwarya Kapoor

Gum Disease and Heart Disease: How Periodontal Bacteria Raise Your Cardiovascular Risk

The bacteria that leave your mouth and reach your arteries

Bleeding gums are not just a dental inconvenience. When the tissue around your teeth is inflamed and ulcerated, which is what periodontal disease actually is, it creates an open wound the size of your palm, lining the inside of your mouth. Every time you chew, brush, or swallow, bacteria from that wound enter your bloodstream directly.

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