Now there's another reason to see the dentist regularly -- a new study says it can help reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke.
A study presented Sunday at an American Heart Association meeting said that those who have had regular teeth cleanings had a 24 percent lower risk of heart attack and 13 percent lower rick of stroke than those who have never seen the dentist.
Teeth-cleaning appears to cut down on inflammation-causing bacterial growth, which can lead to heart disease or stroke, according to AFP.
The study was conducted at the Veterans General Hospital in Taiwan.
It followed more than 100,000 people for an average of seven years.
