Study of links symptoms of gum disease at a higher risk of multiple chronic diseases

An important new study presented at Europerio11The world’s leading conference in periodontology and dental implantation by EFP found that people with gum disease signs are more likely to suffer from multiple chronic health conditions, a state known as polymorphism.

Use of data from British – One of the largest health data sets in the world – researchers from University College London (UCL), Birmingham University; Glasgow University He found that people who reported symptoms of periodontitis (gum disease), such as bleeding gums, painful gums or loose teeth, were statistically more likely to live with two or more chronic diseases, even after depositing agents such as age, smoking.

Our study emphasizes the importance of oral health in the broader context of systemic diseases. He suggests that improving gum health could help reduce the risk of diversity, especially populations. ”

Doctor Nisachon Siripaiboonpong, chief author of UCL’s Eastman Dental Institute

The researchers analyzed data from 500,612 participants in the United Kingdom Biobank. Periodontal health was evaluated through self-reported symptoms-hemorrhagic gums, painful gums and loose teeth-while polymorphism was defined as the presence of two or more chronic diseases, based on self-report and diagnostic ICD-10.

Basic results include:

• 57% of participants were found to have polymorphism (having many health problems at the same time)
• 18% reported signs of gum inflammation
• Those with any symptom of gum disease had about 15% higher chance of having multiple chronic diseases (strange ratio = 1.15)
• Painful gums were the strongest predictor (OR = 1.54), followed by loose teeth (OR = 1.12) and bleeding gums (OR = 1.11)

Because it matters

Poor gum health or periodontal inflammation is increasingly associated with systematic conditions. This is probably due to the spread of oral bacteria and inflammatory signals through blood circulation, which may affect remote organs such as the heart, lungs or brain. In addition, periodontitis and chronic diseases share several common risk factors such as malnutrition, anxiety and socio -economic inequality. “As people live longer, many manage more than a year of years, from diabetes to cardiovascular disease to depression,” said Dr. Siripaiboonpong. “But we often overlook the mouth as part of the problem … and part of the solution.”

While this study does not prove the causality, it provides new elements of large -scale that gum health is associated with wider health effects. He also proposes that treatment of periodontal inflammation can play a preventive role in public health. “We found that the painful gums were strongly connected to the polytheism, even more than bleeding or loose teeth,” Siripaiboonpong said. “This has surprised us and emphasizes the importance of listening to patients when reporting discomfort, even if they have not yet been diagnosed with gum disease.”

The study also found correlations between poor periodontal health and certain conditions, in particular the problems related to alcohol, anxiety and depression, underlining the complex interaction between mental health, lifestyle and oral health.

“Although our findings need further validation, they emphasize the need for better cooperation between dental and medical professionals,” Siripaiboonpong said. “Control for periodontitis could become part of a more holistic approach to managing chronic diseases.”

The authors emphasize the need for timeless studies (following people over time) to clarify whether the poor health of the gum causes chronic diseases.

“This interesting study adds to increasing evidence that gum health is linked to overall health, especially when it comes to managing multiple chronic diseases,” said the Europerio11 Scientific Chair, Lior Shapira. “While the findings are based on self -reported symptoms, which do not replace a clinical diagnosis, they are still a valuable tool in large -scale research.

When asked which health professionals and the public should remove from this study, Siripaiboonpong was clear: “Maintaining good gum health is not just about maintaining your teeth, it is about protecting your general health.