Diseased Gums Linkedโค to Substantially Higher Strokeโฃ Risk, New Study Finds
BUENOS AIRES – โคA new 20-year study has revealed a strong โconnection between poor oral health – specifically periodontal disease and cavities – and an increased riskโฃ of stroke. Researchers found individuals with both conditions faced an 86% higher risk of stroke compared to those with healthy mouths. The findings, published recently, underscore the โimportance โof dental care not just forโฃ oral health, but โfor โoverallโข cardiovascular and brain wellbeing.
The study, ledโ by souvik Sen fromโฃ the University of โฃSouth โCarolina, followed 1,640 participants divided โฃinto three groups based on their oralโ health: those with healthy gums, those with periodontal disease, andโฃ those with periodontal disease and cavities. โคOver the two-decade period, 4% of those with healthy mouths experienced a โฃstroke. This โขnumber rose toโ 7% in โคthe periodontalโ disease group, and a concerning 10% among those with both gum disease and cavities.
Even after accounting for factors like age, body mass index, and smoking,โฃ the research team persistent those โคwith both oral โขconditions had an 86% increased stroke risk,โฃ while thoseโ with periodontal disease aloneโค had a 44% increased risk.
“We found that people with cavities and periodontal โdisease had almost twice the risk of stroke compared โto people with good oral health, even after controlling for cardiovascular risk factors,” Sen stated. โ”These findings suggest that improving oralโค health may โคbe an important component of stroke prevention measures.”
The โคstudy alsoโ highlighted the preventative โpower of regular dental visits. Participantsโ whoโฃ routinely saw a dentist were 81% lessโค likely to develop both gum disease and cavities, and โค29% โless likely to suffer from periodontalโข disease alone. โฃMoreover, individuals with these oral conditions demonstrated aโค 36% increased risk of seriousโฃ cardiovascular events, including heart attacks and โฃfatal heart disease.
“This study reinforces the idea that take care of teeth and gums areโ not just about the smile; also could help protect the brain,” Sen added. “People with symptoms of periodontal โdisease โor โcavities should seek treatment not โคonly to preserve their teeth, but also โto reduceโ the riskโค of suffering a stroke.”
While acknowledging the study only assessed oralโข health at one point in time โคand potential unmeasured influencing factors, the authorsโ emphasize the data reinforces the critical role of dental prevention in maintaining cardiovascularโค andโข brain health.