In a new study from UCL Eastman Dental Institute, researchers found people with periodontitis, a severe gum infection, maybe significantly more likely to have higher blood pressure compared to individuals who had healthy gums.
Periodontitis is an infection of the gum tissues that hold teeth in place that can lead to progressive inflammation, bone or tooth loss.
Prevention and treatment of periodontitis are cost-effective and can lead to a reduction of inflammation as well as improvement in the function of the endothelium (thin membrane lining the inside of the heart and blood vessels).
In the study, the team tested 250 adults with generalized, severe periodontitis (≥50% of teeth measured with gum infection) and a control group of 250 adults who did not have severe gum disease.
All participants underwent comprehensive periodontal examinations including detailed measures of gum disease severity, such as full-mouth dental plaque, bleeding of the gums and the depth of the infected gum pockets.
The team found that a diagnosis of gum disease was associated with higher odds of hypertension, independent of common heart risk factors.
Individuals with gum disease were twice as likely to have high systolic blood pressure values ≥140 mm Hg, compared to people with healthy gums (14% and 7%, respectively).
Researchers also found the presence of active gum inflammation (identified by bleeding gums) was linked to higher systolic blood pressure.
People with periodontitis exhibited increased glucose, LDL (“bad” cholesterol), hsCRP and white blood cell levels, and lower HDL (“good” cholesterol) levels compared to those in the control group.
Nearly 50% of participants with gum disease and 42% of the control group had blood pressure values for a diagnosis of high blood pressure, defined as ≥130/80 mmHg.
This evidence indicates that periodontal bacteria cause damage to the gums and also trigger inflammatory responses that can impact the development of systemic diseases including hypertension.
This would mean that the link between gum disease and elevated blood pressure occurs well before a patient develops high blood pressure.
The study also confirms that a worryingly high number of individuals are unaware of a possible diagnosis of hypertension.
If you care about tooth health, please read studies about common heartburn drugs that may benefit your tooth and gum health, and mouthwash that could effectively remove tooth bacteria.
For more information about health, please see recent studies about common food that may improve your blood pressure, blood sugar, and results showing this 5-minute exercise can reduce high blood pressure effectively.
The study is published in Hypertension. One author of the study is author Eva Muñoz Aguilera, D.D.S., M.Clin.Dent.
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