Oral hygiene has been linked to multiple health conditions, including dementia and diabetes . Now, research shows that people with both gum disease and more tooth cavities also have a notably higher risk of stroke.

Both have been individually associated with stroke in the past, but few studies have analyzed the conditions in combination. So a study led by a team from the University of South Carolina restricted their investigation to individuals with cases of periodontal disease and dental caries.

"We found that people with both cavities and gum disease had almost twice the risk of stroke when compared to people with good oral health, even after controlling for cardiovascular risk factors," says Souvik Sen, the chair of the neurology department at the University of South Carolina.

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