According to a recent English study, patients who have suffered from gum disease have a greater risk of developing mental and cardiac disorders.
- 3.5 billion people are affected by oral diseases.
- To prevent the onset of periodontal disease, good oral hygiene and a healthy lifestyle are essential because they limit the development of dental plaque and the occurrence of tartar.
During our childhood, our parents often told us that it was important to take care of our teeth every day. The reason is simple: poor oral hygiene can have repercussions on health. In a recent study, researchers from the University of Birmingham, England, established a link between the risk of developing mental and cardiac disorders and gum disease caused by poor oral hygiene. The results of their research were published on December 20 in the medical journal British Medical Journal Open.
The scientists decided to carry out this work after making an observation. “When poor oral health progresses, it can lead to a substantial reduction in quality of life. However, until now, little was known about the association between poor oral health and many chronic diseases, including mental health”, said Dr Joht Singh Chandan, researcher from the University of Birmingham and co-author of the study.
For the purposes of their research, the scientists analyzed the medical records of 64,379 people with periodontal disease. The patients were on average 44 years old and 30% were smokers. Among them, 60,995 had gingivitis and 3,384 had periodontitis. The records of these patients were compared with those of 251,161 people who had not suffered from gum disease.
A link between gum disease and the risk of mental and heart disorders
The researchers determined how many patients with and without periodontal disease developed cardiovascular conditions (heart failure, stroke), cardiometabolic pathologies (high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes), autoimmune diseases (type 1 diabetes , psoriasis) and mental disorders (depression, anxiety).
The authors of the study discovered that periodontal disease increased the risk of developing these different pathologies. The results revealed that in patients with a history of periodontal disease, the increased risk of developing a mental disorder was 37%. The risk of contracting an autoimmune pathology increased by 33% after suffering from gum disease. According to studies, people with gingivitis and periodontitis also have an 18% increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
“Our study is the most comprehensive of its kind and the results provided evidence that previously lacked strength or had gaps – in particular the association between poor oral health and mental health”concluded Dr Dawit Zemedikun, a scientist from the University of Birmingham and co-author of the work.
.
