It’s no secret that people with clean teeth and healthy gums have a lower risk of heart attacks and other cardiovascular problems, and two new studies again confirm the link.

In the first, researchers in Taiwan found that people who get a scaling done less than every two years have a 24-percent lower risk of a heart attack and a 13-percent lower risk of a stroke than people who never get the procedure.

Now, if you’re asking, “what’s a scaling,” then I’d say you’re probably overdue for one.

It’s basically a more intense cleaning that goes between the teeth and under the gums — and as someone who’s spent plenty of time squirming in that vinyl chair, I can tell you that it’ll hurt a bit if you’ve slacked off on the flossing.

You don’t need to get scaled every year to get the benefits, though. The researchers say their review of data on more than 100,000 patients found that those who had the procedure every other year were still 13 percent less likely to have a heart attack and 9 percent less likely to suffer a stroke than those who never had it done.

In a second new study, researchers in Sweden found that people who suffer from more gum infections have a 53-percent higher risk of heart attack than those with fewer gum infections, and people who have bleeding gums have a higher risk of stroke.

The same study found that people who lose 11 teeth or more for whatever reason have a 69-percent higher risk of heart attack than people with all or most of their chompers. Those who lost the most teeth also had a higher risk of congestive heart failure.

Obviously, you put it all together and it’s important to keep your mouth clean — and not just to avoid bad breath, painful cavities, and the loss of your teeth.

But don’t just rush off to any old dentist. Take the time to find someone who can care for your teeth without the use of fluoride and mercury, and with minimal use of X-rays.

A good place to start your search is with the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology.

You already know how testosterone can bring your sex life back from the dead. Now, the latest research shows how it can keep the rest of you out of the grave as well.

In fact, this manly hormone can slash your risk of two of the greatest killers of seniors: heart attack and stroke.

Swedish researchers examined testosterone levels of some 2,400 men in their 70s and 80s, then tracked them for an average of five years.

Over that time, they found that men in the top 25 percent of testosterone levels had a 30 percent lower risk of cardiovascular problems including heart disease, heart attack and stroke than everyone else — and that’s even after adjusting for risk factors including weight, diabetes and a previous history of heart attack and stroke.

The study doesn’t go as far as to prove that testosterone is the reason for the stronger hearts — but it’s certainly not the first to make the link.

A study last year found that men in their 70s and 80s with the lowest levels of testosterone were more likely to have at least three of five signs of failing health — including heart disease, chronic fatigue, and difficulties getting around.

Another study even found that men with the lowest levels were most likely to die younger.

Clearly, you need this stuff… even if you think you’re no longer interested in sex. Now, the question is how to get it — because if you’re past middle age, you almost certainly need more.

First thing’s first: Head to a physician experienced in natural hormones. He can check your levels, find out where you are, and give you what you need the right way.

Close to 50 million Americans can dramatically reduce their death risk by making one simple change right now — and it won’t cost a cent. In fact, it’ll save you thousands of dollars a year. Despite that fact, most people can’t (or won’t) make that one simple change.

You may have guessed by now that I’m talking about smoking — more specifically, quitting smoking.

That might sound obvious to you — but what’s not as obvious is how quickly you could see those benefits.

According to a recent study in the Lancet, quitting today could actually slash your risk of dying in just six months.

Those benefits aren’t just for the smokers. The researchers also found that the public bans on lighting up can also help protect entire communities in that same six-month window.

In Scotland, for example, in the six months after a smoking ban took effect in 2006, there was a 17-percent drop in hospital admissions for acute coronary syndrome and a 6-percent drop in cardiac deaths outside of hospitals.

Closer to home, a smoking ban in Helena, Montana, a few years back led to a 40-percent drop in admissions for acute coronary syndrome at one hospital within six months. Then, when that ban was suspended by a series of court cases, the
numbers shot right back up.

So the bottom line is that when people smoke, people die…and when they’re forced to cut back, they live. And all it takes is six months.

Since the benefits of dietary and lifestyle changes can take between one and three years to kick in, kicking butts is actually one of the fastest ways to boost your health.

The latest numbers from Ohio point in the same direction. The state’s health department says there was a 26-percent drop in ER visits for heart attacks after a public smoking ban took effect in 2007.

And in 2009, U.S., Canadian, and European cities saw 17 percent fewer heart attacks in the year following a smoking ban, along with drops of between 26 percent and 36 percent over three years. (Read more here.)

If all that inspires you to quit, be sure to do it without the help of antismoking meds. Those things can be even worse for you than smoking itself.

The most commonly used med, Chantix, has been linked to violence, aggression, and suicide. In fact, one recent study found that the number of suicides among people who’ve taken it might be double what we’ve been led to believe.

Chantix has even been found to up the odds of a heart attack.

That’s not how you save lives — that’s how you end them.

Speaking of bad habits, keep reading for the latest numbers on soda.

I love a good mystery — and there’s one brewing right now in the world of coffee.

You’ve probably already heard that java can help protect you against everything from dementia to Parkinson’s to colon cancer.

Now, a new study has found two ingredients in particular that seem to work together to protect you against Alzheimer’s disease. One is caffeinate, and the other is…well, that’s where the mystery comes in.

Previous research had shown that pure caffeine itself improved cognition in mice with symptoms of Alzheimer’s. But according to the results of this latest study, caffeinated coffee could give you an even bigger brain boost than caffeine alone. Take a look…

Researchers from Tampa’s University of South Florida gave mice either pure caffeine, regular coffee, or decaf coffee. They found that mice that got the “real” brew had the highest blood levels of granulocyte colony stimulating factor, or GCSF.

That’s a protein that plays a key role in the immune system. High levels of it has also been linked to better memory, and low levels have been tied to Alzheimer’s.

It’s no wonder GCSF is such a powerhouse. The researchers say that it benefits your brain in three different ways.

First, it suppresses the production of beta amyloid, the plaque that is believed to be the cause of Alzheimer’s. But
it doesn’t stop there. GCSF also goes to work destroying any existing beta amyloid. Finally, it produces connections in your brain, and encourages the birth of new brain cells.

Since pure caffeine alone didn’t produce the same surge in GCSF, researchers believe it’s the combination with the “mystery ingredient” that provides the boost.

Coffee — especially espresso — is also one of the top natural sources of niacin, a key vitamin that can help prevent heart attacks and stroke.

One recent study found women who drank more than a cup a day had a 25 percent lower risk of stroke than women who drank no coffee.

And of course, one of coffee’s most notable effects on your brain is its ability to wake it up each day. I know my own
always seems to function just a little bit better after the second cup.