Is kidney health connected with tooth health?
Chronic kidney disease may be linked to tooth loss in postmenopausal women, according to a study published in Menopause.
The glomerular filtration rate and reproductive hormone levels are known to both decline following menopause — potentially increasing the risks of abdominal obesity, tooth loss and chronic kidney disease. Previous studies have found that tooth loss may be associated with diabetes, thyroid disease, osteoporosis, stroke and kidney function.
In the study, investigators evaluated the relationship between tooth loss and chronic kidney disease in nearly 65,000 postmenopausal women. They found that the glomerular filtration rate was associated with having at least 20 teeth, showing that a low tooth count may predict chronic kidney disease — particularly among women aged 66 to 79 years.
Clinicians were advised to prevent and manage mineral and bone metabolism disorders in this patient population to reduce the risk of tooth loss and kidney disease progression.
Read more: Menopause
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