Tooth loss linked to heart disease

Apparently oral health and heart health are more related than it might at first appear. A new study has linked the two -- finding that young adults who have cavities and gum disease, or lose their teeth, are more at risk of dying from heart disease later in life.

This adds to mounting concern that poor oral health has a negative impact on heart health over time. A number of studies have shown that they're related -- but how much does one contribute to the other?

Some think that the same bacteria that, in the mouth, causes gum disease, gets into the bloodstream where it eventually damages the lining in your blood vessels. However, others feel that many of the same factors that cause poor oral health are also responsible for poor heart health -- so it only follows that the two would occur simultaneously.

So the question remains: will improving your oral health reduce your risk of heart disease? It's an interesting idea, but more studies are needed before we'll know for sure.