Identifying oral health markers of autoimmune disease risk

Investigators may have uncovered a link between oral health issues and the development of autoimmune diseases.

In a study published in BMC Oral Health, the investigators used UK Biobank data to explore the relationship between self-reported factors indicating oral health issues — such as painful or bleeding gums, oral ulcers, dental pain, loose teeth or the use of dentures — and nearly 40 incident autoimmune diseases among more than 450,000 individuals.

Compared with those who did not have self-reported oral health issues, those who did had a higher likelihood of experiencing an autoimmune disease, particularly those with painful gums followed by those with oral ulcers and those with dental pain. The participants who had a greater number of factors related to oral health issues were more likely to have an autoimmune disease.

In addition, the investigators identified specific connections between oral health issues and the risk of primary biliary cholangitis, rheumatism, lichen planus, Sjögren’s disease, pernicious anemia, rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis.

In a news article from Dr. Bicuspid reporting on the study, they cautioned that the use of self-reported oral health issues may have introduced the possibility of recall bias. The investigators concluded that indicators of poor oral health could help highlight the risk of autoimmune diseases in this patient population.

Read more: Dr. Bicuspid

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