Oct. 20, 2009 (Philadelphia) — Brush and floss! Gum disease may raise your risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis, a new study shows.
“We’ve known for a while that there is an association between gum disease and rheumatoid arthritis. But our new work suggests periodontal disease is causal,” says study head Jerry A. Molitor, MD, PhD, associate professor in the division of rheumatology and autoimmune disease at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
Compared to people with mild or no periodontitis surrounding two or three teeth, people with moderate to severe gum disease are nearly three times more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the study shows. Among never-smokers with moderate to severe gum disease, the risk is increased ninefold.
People with periodontitis also have higher blood levels of an antibody that has been associated with more severe, damaging RA than do people with healthy gums, Molitor says.
The study involved 6,616 people who underwent four thorough health checkups between 1987 and 1998. Everyone also had a dental exam between 1996 and 1998.
The findings were presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology.
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Article Source: WebMD
Tags: Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis