Link Between Periodontal Disease and Arthritis

 Cleaning your teeth at home twice daily, as well as meeting with a dental professional every three months is incredibly essential for individuals with rheumatoid arthritis. New studies indicate that tooth loss and decay may possibly predict rheumatoid arthritis as well as the extent of the condition. It has been found that the more teeth you lose, the higher you'll be at risk for rheumatoid arthritis. In addition, treating periodontal disease lowers your health care costs related to arthritis.

Below are three recent studies detailing the connection:

Study #1

In an examination presented at the 2012 European Congress of Rheumatology in Berlin, out of 540 individuals struggling with an early level of arthritis, twenty-four percent of the group had ten or less teeth, fifteen percent had eleven to twenty, and twenty-two percent had twenty-eight or more teeth. This is compared to a complete set of teeth, including wisdom teeth, which amounts to a total of thirty-two.

After six months, fifty-two percent experienced a good reaction to periodontal therapy, thirty-two percent had a reasonable effect, and sixteen percent had absolutely no reaction at all. The most severe condition occurred in individuals with the least amount of teeth. Those with ten or less teeth experienced more serious type of arthritis than patients exceeding more than ten teeth.

Study #2

A research investigation, conducted in Germany, published in the Journal of Periodontology, revealed that individuals with rheumatoid arthritis experienced far more periodontal disease symptoms when compared with patients without rheumatoid arthritis. Those with rheumatoid arthritis had an 800 percent increase in developing any form of gum disease. A statement displayed at the 2011 European League Against Rheumatism conference discovered that out of the ninety-five individuals with rheumatoid arthritis analyzed, eighteen percent experienced chronic forms of gum disease such as periodontitis and thirty-two percent suffered from mild symptoms of periodontal disease. In comparison, around ten to fifteen percent of the men and women without rheumatoid arthritis will develop a moderate to severe type of gum disease.

Study #3

United Concordia study of health care costs related to periodontal disease, Dr. Marjorie Jeffcoat found that annual medical costs were $3,964 lower for rheumatoid arthritis patients who treated their periodontal disease.

Exactly why might periodontal disease result in the severe, agonizing swelling of the joints known as rheumatoid arthritis? Not one person knows undoubtedly. However research indicates that the process of the deterioration of conjoining tissues in both rheumatoid arthritis and periodontal disease is quite similar. Both are inflammatory diseases. Both raise the level of C-reactive protein in the body, which is an indicator of inflammation.

Periodontal disease varies from gingivitis, a moderate condition that triggers inflamed, sensitive gums, to worse kinds such as periodontitis, described by the inflammation consequences of the bone and tissue supporting your teeth. Many people suffering from rheumatoid arthritis additionally develop Sjogren's syndrome, an autoimmune disorder involving the glands that can cause elevated tooth decay as well as dry mouth.

If you have a moderate form of gum disease, it may be treated with bi-annual tooth cleanings in addition to proper oral hygiene at home. Individuals with dangerous types of periodontal disease such as periodontitis will require treatment from a periodontist.

Below are a few suggestions to help make dental hygiene simpler to deal with:

• Clean your teeth at home thoroughly at least twice a day.

• Avoid the cigarettes. Smoking can increase the development of periodontal disease.

• If you have arthritis then speak to your dentist beforehand. At times quicker sessions planned later on in the daytime, when joints are more flexible, will make you much more at ease. Request a leg or neck cushion for support in the dentist's chair to make the experience more comfortable.

• Increase your professional dental cleanings to every three months.

Periodontal disease has also been discovered as a link to other serious ailments such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and stroke along with rheumatoid arthritis. Taking proper care of your teeth will likely better your overall health in the long run.