Feb. 22 (iVillage Total Health) -- Here's yet another reason to brush and floss daily to keep your teeth plaque-free: people with severe gum disease caused by plaque buildup may be at greater risk of heart disease.

According to a new study published in the February issue of the Journal of Periodontology, controlling plaque buildup on your teeth could not only help prevent periodontitis -- a severe form of gum disease -- but also help protect the blood vessels in your heart from harmful bacteria.

Gum disease -- also called periodontal disease -- is inflammation and infection of the gums, tissues and bones supporting the teeth. According to the American Dental Association, 20 to 30 percent of adults may have the more severe form of gum disease called periodontitis. The gums may become so severely infected that they pull away from the teeth, creating periodontal pockets that allow harmful bacteria to flow into the bloodstream.

Researchers from the Medical University of Warsaw set out to determine if those bacteria are present in coronary arteries supplying blood to the heart. They studied 20 patients diagnosed with chronic periodontitis with periodontal pockets at least 5 millimeters (mm) in depth. Plaque samples were taken from everyone and tested to identify the specific bacteria present. In addition, each patient underwent heart bypass surgery and samples of plaque in their coronary arteries were taken and tested.

In 13 of the 20 participants, the same harmful bacteria frequently present in periodontitis were also found in their coronary vessels. More specifically, 10 of the patients carried the same bacteria within the plaque clogging their heart arteries (artherosclerosis ).

"We found that patients with periodontal pathogens detected in atherosclerotic plaque had four mm or greater of deep periodontal pockets and a significantly higher bleeding index," study author Dr. Maciej Zaremba said in a press release. "This supports the possibility that bacteria associated with periodontitis can permeate into coronary vessels."

Dr. Preston D. Miller, president of the American Academy of Periodontology, said in a press release that since gum disease and heart disease have several common risk factors, more studies are needed to understand the link between these two conditions. He added: "It is very important for people to talk to their dentist or periodontist about their periodontal health and their at-home oral hygiene routine to prevent periodontal disease and maybe even coronary artery disease [CAD]."

CAD is the most common form of cardiovascular disease in the United States and the leading cause of heart attacks. It is the leading single killer of American men and women, responsible for one of every five deaths in 2003, according to the American Heart Association.

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