An oral topical remedy used to treat gum disease has been shown to prevent vascular inflammation and lower the risk of heart attack.

According to the research, published online by the American Heart Association, scientists at Forsyth and Boston University have demonstrated the agent known as Resolvin E1 — used to reduce inflammation associated with periodontitis — boosts heart health.

The findings are the latest to underscore the increasing body of evidence showcasing how problems in the mouth—- and how they are treated — can have life changing influences on other key systems in the body, such as the heart.

"Our research is helping to underscore the very real link between oral health and heart disease," said lead researcher Hatice Hasturk, an associate member of Forsyth's Department of Applied Oral Sciences and director of Forsyth's Center for Clinical and Translational Research.

"The general public understands the connection between heart health and overall wellness, and often takes appropriate steps to prevent heart disease. More education is needed to elevate oral wellness into the same category in light of proven connections to major health conditions."

According to the CDC, heart disease accounts for one in four deaths in the United States and gum disease affects 64.7 million adults.

The new study is slated for publication in the AHA journal Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology.