6 investments in your health

Perhaps you've accepted that by not flossing you're putting yourself at risk for gum disease. But what about heart disease?

Once bacteria are in your gums, they can compromise your cardiovascular system, research shows. A recent study in the Journal of Periodontology found that patients ages 40 to 59 with severe gum disease had cumulative healthcare costs 21% higher than those who had healthy gums.

Flossing greatly reduces the risks of gum disease, and at $3 a box, it's cheap insurance.

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