Brushing your teeth may do more than keep your smile bright and your breath fresh. A new study published in the British Medical Journal suggests that regular teeth brushing and good overall oral health can help prevent heart problems.

According to Reuters, researchers studied nearly 12,000 adults in Scotland and found those with poor oral hygiene had a 70 percent increased risk of heart disease compared with those who brushed twice a day and who were less likely to have unhealthy gums.

"Compared to things like smoking and poor diet, which are obviously the main risk factors for heart disease, we are not claiming this is in the same league," lead researcher Richard Watt told the news provider. "But even after controlling for all those things there is a still a relationship between this very simple measure of tooth brushing and heart condition."

Watt said that gum disease and its accompanying inflammation can contribute to clogged arteries. Blood tests on subjects with poor oral hygiene were also positive for two factors called C-reactive protein and fibrinogen – both of which signal inflammation in the body.