Gum disease seems to clog arteries and can trigger or exacerbate atherosclerosis according to a study at the Columbia University Medical Center, published in the February 8 issue of Circulation.
Gum disease is a chronic infection that seems to spur a gradual thickening of artery walls throughout the body.
I have a fuzzy memory of a quote about flossing that struck me very much at the time but apparently nobody else because I can't find it anywhere on the web. Some years ago, a union leader said, - I think it was Walter Reuther - - "If I knew I was going to live so long, I would have flossed more."
Being old with gum disease and clogger arteries is worse than being old. You are going to live longer than you think, so you may as well be in good shape to enjoy it. Think of flossing as putting money in the bank for your old age.
Posted by Jill Fallon at February 8, 2005 8:03 PM | Permalink