When undiagnosed or untreated, this chronic inflammation can contribute to the development and worsening of cardiovascular diseases, a risk still little known to the general public.
Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease that is often silent and one of the main causes of tooth loss in adults. Characterised by the progressive destruction of the supporting tissues of the teeth, it can develop without obvious pain, leading many patients to ignore warning signs such as bleeding gums, gum recession, bad breath, tooth mobility, sensitivity or discomfort when chewing. As these signs appear gradually, regular check-ups and timely clinical assessment are essential for an early diagnosis.
“It is very common for patients to dismiss bleeding gums as a temporary issue, when in fact this is often already a sign of significant inflammation. Periodontitis develops progressively and, when more advanced symptoms appear, there may already be substantial bone loss”, explains Ana Ferro, Periodontology specialist and dentist at MALO CLINIC.
A meta-analysis published in 2023, which analysed data from more than 4.3 million participants across 39 prospective studies, concluded that people with periodontal disease have a 24% higher risk of major cardiovascular events, a 26% higher risk of stroke and a 42% higher risk of death from cardiac causes, compared with those without the disease¹.
These findings become even more relevant when one considers that the association remains regardless of other risk factors such as smoking, hypertension, obesity or diabetes². In addition, it may also make it harder to control metabolic conditions such as diabetes.
Treating and controlling periodontitis is therefore not only a matter of preserving teeth: it is a measure to protect cardiovascular health and the body as a whole.
References:
¹ Guo X, Li X, Liao C, Feng X, He T. Periodontal disease and subsequent risk of cardiovascular outcome and all-cause mortality: A meta-analysis of prospective studies. PLoS One. 2023 Sep 8;18(9):e0290545. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0290545. PMID: 37682950; PMCID: PMC10490928. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10490928/
² Forsyth Institute. Periodontal disease increases risk of major cardiovascular events. ScienceDaily, 22 February 2021. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/02/210222092304.htm
