Do all the cardio you want. Your heart ain't thriving without a healthy mouth.

The typical cardio workout: running, jogging, riding, rowing, walking, jumping or climbing.

Our cardio workout? Brushing, flossing, gargling, scraping and chewing.

Did you know that an unhealthy mouth can also mean an unhealthy heart?

Hear it from Dr. Alisha (@dentistrywithali), a really cool dentist who you should probably get to know:

"Plaque on your teeth can be connected to plaque in your arteries!"

Uh oh. Not good news for those of us who have been skipping out on mouth love.

"When someone has gingivitis or periodontitis (gum disease) - the gums become inflamed due to bacteria. The same bacteria that can inflame the mouth have the ability to travel throughout the body and can impact our heart health."

"Research shows that those who suffer from gum disease are 2-3x more likely to have a heart attack, stroke or a serious cardiovascular event than those who don't."

We're not trying to scare you here, we promise. We actually think this is awesome news. Think about it... cardio is really really hard sometimes. Brushing and flossing are pretty easy.

So on days when you don't feel like going to the gym, make sure you're at least taking care of your piehole. We know it's not the same without that cute personal trainer with the short shorts, but it'll have to do.

Give Dr. Alisha a follow for more info about mouth health and full-body health.