Have less than 24 teeth? Watch out for stroke!

London: If you have less than 24 teeth, beware. It could lead to a stroke.

Researchers calculate that those with fewer than 24 teeth are 60 percent more likely to suffer a stroke. Underlying gum disease may be to blame, a new study says.

Researchers at Japan's Hiroshima University examined 358 patients and found that stroke patients in their 50s and 60s had significantly fewer teeth than patients in the same age groups who had had other problems.

The number of teeth was also significantly lower among stroke patients in their 50s than in the other population of the same age.

Researchers found that having 24 or less teeth increased the risk of stroke by 57 percent, compared with those with 25 or more teeth.

They also took into account a range of other risk factors associated with stroke including smoking habits, obesity and alcohol use.

"This review suggests that tooth loss may be related to both ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes," says Mitsuyoshi Yoshida, who led the study at Hiroshima.