KUOPIO, Finland: Stroke is the second leading cause of death globally, and periodontitis has been shown to be associated with an increased risk of ischemic stroke. Building on their research on links between poor periodontal health and various cognitive problems, reported on by Dental Tribune International, a team at the University of Eastern Finland have investigated the relationship between periodontitis and stroke among individuals under the age of 50 and confirmed the link in a case–control study.