Missing teeth, loss of bone around teeth and reduced periodontal health appear to be associated with an increased risk of ischemic stroke, the type caused by blood clots, Massachusetts-based researchers report in the Journal of Periodontology.
“Further studies need to be conducted to confirm this association,” senior investigator Dr. Martha E. Nunn told Reuters Health, “but given our research, as well as other research in this area, 1 would advise anyone at risk for stroke to maintain good oral health.”
