Keeping your teeth clean and buildup-free might have some below-the-belt benefits, too: Men with chronic periodontitis—inflammation of the gums that often develops as a result of plaque buildup—are more than twice as likely to have erectile dysfunction, a new meta-analysis from China concluded. Inflammation caused by gum disease can damage blood vessels in your penis, impeding the blood flow necessary for an erection, as we’ve previously reported.
