The most obvious confounder, though, would be that someone who has the discipline to develop lifelong habits of oral hygiene very likely also has the discipline to develop lifelong healthier habits of nutrition and exercise (which are strongly associated with cvd).
ApricatingInAccismus t1_jberqev wrote
Reply to comment by wealhtheow in Oral hygiene, mouthwash usage and cardiovascular mortality during 18.8 years of follow-up - oral hygiene self-care OHS was associated with a 51% reduction in the risk of CVD mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 0.49 [0.28-0.85]; p = 0.01). by Meatrition
The most obvious confounder, though, would be that someone who has the discipline to develop lifelong habits of oral hygiene very likely also has the discipline to develop lifelong healthier habits of nutrition and exercise (which are strongly associated with cvd).