Evidence is mounting that the effects of oral health on the body are not localized to oral tissues only. A study in 2020 found that compared to a healthy control group, saliva from patients who recently had strokes showed increased biomarkers for inflammation and protein oxidation, suggesting a link between oral health and stroke risk.[1] Another study published in the same year found a link between periodontitis (infection of the gums) and high blood pressure.[2] Furthermore, some evidence shows that poor oral health is associated withcan predict cardiovascular and respiratory disease mortality.[3] The effects of oral health are not limited to the cardiovascular system, however, as periodontitis has been linked to at least 50 systemic diseases.[4]. Although the details and mechanisms are still being sorted out, it is clear that there is a relationship between oral health and systemic health.
References
- ^Gerreth P, Maciejczyk M, Zalewska A, Gerreth K, Hojan KComprehensive Evaluation of the Oral Health Status, Salivary Gland Function, and Oxidative Stress in the Saliva of Patients with Subacute Phase of Stroke: A Case-Control Study.J Clin Med.(2020-Jul-15)
- ^Machado V, Aguilera EM, Botelho J, Hussain SB, Leira Y, Proença L, D'Aiuto F, Mendes JJAssociation between Periodontitis and High Blood Pressure: Results from the Study of Periodontal Health in Almada-Seixal (SoPHiAS).J Clin Med.(2020-May-23)
- ^Aida J, Kondo K, Yamamoto T, Hirai H, Nakade M, Osaka K, Sheiham A, Tsakos G, Watt RGOral health and cancer, cardiovascular, and respiratory mortality of Japanese.J Dent Res.(2011-Sep)
- ^Beck JD, Papapanou PN, Philips KH, Offenbacher SPeriodontal Medicine: 100 Years of Progress.J Dent Res.(2019-09)