A new study found that asevere gum diseaseThis can put otherwise healthy people at risk of having high blood pressure much more often. “Periodontitis bacteria” damage the palate and cause an inflammatory reaction that influences the development of systemic diseases, including high blood pressure.” said the author of the study Dr. Francesco D'Aiuto, Head of the University Periodontics Unit at the University College London Eastman Dental Institute. The consequences of periodontitis are significantly more severe than previously assumed.
DieScientists researched250 otherwise healthy adults with severe periodontitis and 250 healthy adults without palate disease. The mean age was 35, meaning half were older and the other half were younger. Participants with periodontitis were two times more likely to have high systolic blood pressure (140 mm Hg and higher) than those with healthy palates (14% and 7%, respectively). The systolic blood pressure level shows the pressure that blood exerts on the blood vessels as it moves through the body.
Because only an association was established and not a cause-and-effect relationship, the results suggest that approximately 50% of adults may have undetected high blood pressure due to periodontitis. Periodontitis is an infection of the tissue and can lead to inflammation and loss of teeth and bone.
Periodontitis consequences: This is why gum disease is so dangerous
According to the researchers, preventing and treating palate disease may be an effective way to reduce systemic inflammation and improve the function of the endosthelium (the thin inner layer of the heart and blood vessels). “Because high blood pressure often has no external symptoms, many people may be unaware of the problem and at risk of heart disease. Examinations by dentists and general practitioners can be useful for patients and reduce the burden of high blood pressure and its complications,” said D'Aiuto.
“There are proven habits, such as brushing your teeth twice a day, that are effective in preventing oral diseases. Our study shows that they may also be helpful in preventing high blood pressure,” the researcher concluded.
