the dental connection.(gum disease is linked to increased risk for heart disease)(Brief Article)

If you're like most people, you'd probably prefer an audit by the IRS than a visit to the dentist. Yet 35 million Americans have the beginnings of gum disease, a chronic condition that can not only lead to tooth loss but, in advanced cases, to cardiovascular and pulmonary disease as well.

A recent report from the surgeon general cited new research suggesting that gum disease can affect your heart and lungs and make pregnant women more likely to give birth to premature, low-birth--weight babies. Studies show that after bacteria become lodged in the gums which is how gum disease be gins--they can travel to the heart, causing small artery-clogging clots and triggering heart disease, heart attack and stroke. The same bacteria can find their way into the lungs (causing emphysema) and the uterus, sometimes leading to early labor. According to the Chicago-based American Academy of Periodontology, people with advanced stages of gum disease have nearly twice the risk of suffering a fatal heart attack as those who don't have it.

But take heart. The following is a list of what you can do to avoid gum disease.

* Brush at least twice a day and floss once, preferably at bedtime. This prevents a buildup of plaque and tartar on the teeth. (Plaque is a thin, sticky, soft white film that naturally forms on the teeth. If you don't get rid of it, it can harden into tartar, a crusty deposit that can only be removed by a professional.)

* Floss properly. This entails wrapping the ends around both index fingers and sliding the floss between your teeth. Curve the floss into a C-shape against one tooth and gently slide it into the space between the gum and the tooth. Hold ...