A study of 942 participants, published in the Journal of Periodontology, found that those who consumed products with 55 or more grams of lactic acid -- found in dairy products -- had significantly less periodontal, or gum disease.

The study participants, ages 40 through 79, were examined on two periodontal parameters that can indicate gum disease -- periodontal pocket depth and clinical attachment loss of gum tissue

"Research has suggested that periodontal disease may affect overall systemic health," said study author Dr. Yoshihiro Shimazaki of Kyushu University in Fukuoka, Japan. "This study reinforces what much of the public already knows -- the importance of dairy in helping achieve a healthy lifestyle, including a healthy mouth."

Periodontal disease -- a chronic bacterial infection of the gums and bone supporting the teeth -- is a major cause of tooth loss in adults and has been linked to increased risk of heart disease, stroke and complications from diabetes, respiratory disease or osteoporosis.