Drinking beetroot juice makes people produce more saliva, with healthy people producing more than those with gum disease.

People with gum disease have more nitrate left in their saliva after drinking beetroot juice, meaning their mouth bacteria aren't converting it as well as healthy people's bacteria.

People with gum disease don't get the same blood pressure-lowering effect from beetroot juice as healthy people do.

Treating gum disease helps people with gum problems get the blood pressure-lowering benefits from beetroot juice.