Patients with a history of gum disease face an increased risk of developing other illnesses including stroke, a first-of-its-kind UK study has found.
Researchers analysed GP records of 64,379 patients who had a GP-inputted recorded history of periodontal disease, including gingivitis and periodontitis.
Periodontitis can lead to tooth loss if untreated.
A total of 60,995 of the patients had gingivitis and 3,384 had periodontitis.
The records were then compared to the records of 251,161 who had no record of the disease.
Patients with a history periodontal disease at the start of the study were 18 per cent more likely to develop cardiovascular disease including stroke, 26 per cent more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes 33 per cent more likely to be diagnosed with a mental illness within three years.
Co-first author, Dr Joht Singh Chandan, of the University of Birmingham’s Institute of Applied Health Research, said:
“Poor oral health is extremely common, both here in the UK and globally. When oral ill-health progresses, it can lead to a substantially reduced quality of life.
“We found evidence that periodontal disease appears to be associated with an increased risk of developing these associated chronic diseases. As periodontal diseases are very common, an increased risk of other chronic diseases may represent a substantial public health burden.”
Periodontal specialist, Dr Devan Raindi, also of the University of Birmingham’s School of Dentistry, added: “[This study] reinforces the importance of prevention, early identification and treatment of periodontitis and the need for members of the public to attend regular oral health checks with a dentist or dental care professional.”
A 2019 study found that people with gum disease were twice as likely than the rest of the population to have a stroke.
The researchers discovered that gums bleeding and becoming inflamed leads to changes in how blood and oxygen flows to the brain.
