Does oral health influence health in the rest of the body?

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.