Brushing and flossing may actually save your life.

If you're worried about heart disease, you can easily spend thousands of rupees each year trying to prevent it, paying hand over fist for prescription medicines, shelves of healthy cookbooks, fitness machines for your home, and a gym membership.

Or maybe not. A number of recent studies suggest that you may already have a cheap and powerful weapon against heart attacks, strokes, and other heart disease conditions. It costs less than Rs 50 and is sitting on your bathroom counter. It is none other than the humble toothbrush.

"There are a lot of studies that suggest that oral health, and gum disease in particular, are related to serious conditions like heart disease, stroke, diabetes, preterm deliveries etc. So what might hardening of the arteries have to do with gingivitis, that minor villain of toothpaste and mouthwash commercials?

Most of us have experienced periodontal disease in its mild form, gingivitis -- inflammation of the gums that causes them to redden and swell. However, gingivitis may evolve into periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is a chronic infection of the gums caused by the buildup of plaque and the bacteria that live in plaque release a steady stream of toxins, provoking a chronic inflammatory response by the immune system. To fight infection, the body bombards the gums with white blood cells. A combination of toxins from the bacteria and substances released by the white blood cells breaks down the supportive tissue and bones that hold teeth in place. The result is tooth loss.

Periodontal bacteria and the toxins they produce may have an adverse effect on vascular health. These same bacteria have been found clumped in artery plaques. So one theory is that these bacteria stick to the fatty plaques in the bloodstream, directly contributing to blockages. Other possibilities lie in the body's own defense mechanisms against bacteria. One of the body's natural responses to infection is swelling. This swelling could then narrow an artery and increase the risk of clots.

If you're at risk of heart disease, you do the obvious:

• Lose weight if you're overweight
• Eat healthy foods
• Exercise most days of the week
• Control any conditions that increase risk, such as diabetes, high cholesterol, or high blood pressure 

But everyone should make a special effort to prevent oral health problems:In many cases, you may just need to learn better brushing and flossing habits. More advanced cases of periodontal disease may require a trip to the dentist for a careful cleaning of the roots of the teeth, called scaling and root planning, or surgery.If you keep your mouth clean, it's very hard for the bacteria that cause periodontal disease to get started. You'll also reap other benefits -- fewer fillings, healthy gums, brighter smile and healthy heart.

Additional studies have pointed to a relationship between periodontal disease and stroke. People diagnosed with acute cerebrovascular ischemia were found more likely to have an oral infection when compared to those in the control group.

Pregnant women who have periodontal disease may be seven times more likely to have a baby that is born too early and too small For a long time we've known that risk factors such as smoking, alcohol use, and drug use contribute to mothers having babies that are born prematurely at a low birth weight.Now evidence is mounting that suggests a new risk factor – periodontal disease. It appears that periodontal disease triggers increased levels of biological fluids that induce labor leading to preterm delivery and premature babies.