Scientists from the University of Oslo found that people with a prior heart attack or diabetes are more likely to have gum disease than their healthy peers.
The findings raise awareness about the correlations between chronic illnesses which affect large numbers of people. This knowledge may help efforts to prevent these diseases.
The research was presented at EuroPerio10 and was conducted by Dr. Ida Stødle et al.
Non‐communicable diseases are becoming increasingly common as populations age and there is growing evidence that they are connected. Gum disease, also called periodontitis, affects up to half of all adults worldwide.
This study examined whether severe periodontitis was more frequent in individuals with diabetes or a prior heart attack.
The team analyzed data from 4,933 people, who completed questionnaires on lifestyle factors, medications, and diseases such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
A clinical assessment of teeth and soft tissues was performed, plus a dental radiological examination.
The team found a total of 147 (3.0%) participants reported a prior heart attack, 224 (4.5%) stated they had diabetes, 165 (3.3%) had high HbA1c (48mmol/mol or above), and 866 (17.6%) had severe gum disease.
They found strong associations between diabetes, elevated HbA1c, prior heart attack and severe gum disease.
The results show that patients with diabetes were 40% more likely to have severe gum disease than those without diabetes.
Participants with high HbA1c were 50% more likely to have severe gum disease than those with HbA1c levels below 48mmol/mol.
Finally, heart attack survivors were 70% more likely to have severe gum disease than participants who had never experienced a heart attack.
These findings suggest that people with gum disease are at greater risk of having a heart attack and developing diabetes, and also that those with diabetes are at greater risk of getting gum disease.
Taken together, the findings indicate that maintaining oral health could also benefit general health.
If you care about gum health, please read studies about new causes of tooth decay and gum diseases, and common heartburn drugs may benefit your tooth and gum health.
For more information about gum health, please see recent studies about mouthwash that may increase your tooth damage, and results showing this common gum disease may double your risk of high blood pressure.
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