SOMETHING TO CHEW ON

An established connection between periodontitis and high blood pressure could see our gum health being used to identify cardiovascular risk.

Research by the American Heart Association shows that adults with periodontitis (an infection of the gum tissue), may be significantly more likely to have higher blood pressure compared to individuals who have healthy gums. The study included 250 adults with periodontitis and a control group of 250 adults who did not have severe gum disease. “Patients with gum disease often present with elevated blood pressure, especially when there is active gingival inflammation, or bleeding of the gums,” said lead study author Eva Muñoz Aguilera. “Elevated blood pressure is usually asymptomatic, and many individuals may be unaware that they are at increased risk of cardiovascular complications. We aimed to investigate the association between severe periodontitis and high blood pressure in healthy adults without a confirmed diagnosis of hypertension.” The researchers found that a diagnosis of gum disease was associated with higher odds of hypertension, independent of common cardiovascular risk factors. Individuals with gum disease were twice as likely to have high systolic blood pressure values, compared to people with healthy gums. The presence of active gum inflammation was associated with higher systolic blood pressure, too. “This evidence indicates that periodontal bacteria triggers inflammatory responses that can impact the development of systemic diseases including hypertension,” says research author Professor Francesco D’Aiuto. “This would mean that the link between gum disease and elevated blood pressure occurs well before a patient develops high blood pressure.”