Periodontitis may be risk factor for stroke in younger patients

Periodontitis may increase the risk of stroke in patients younger than 50 years of age, according to a study published in the Journal of Dental Research. Over the past few decades, strokes have become more prevalent.

In the study, investigators examined the data of healthy controls and patients aged 20 to 50 years who experienced strokes but had no known causal factors. They assessed the dental procedures the patients had undergone prior to stroke as well as inflammatory markers associated with periodontitis. Compared with controls, the patients who experienced strokes were more likely to have periodontitis. They also identified potential risk factors of stroke, such as tooth extraction, root canal treatment and acutely symptomatic inflamed teeth that hadn’t yet been removed. Further, periodontitis progression was positively correlated with stroke severity.

As a result of their findings, the investigators hypothesized that oral bacteria may enter the bloodstream during inflammation — linked to preexisting conditions or dental procedures — and induce blood clotting.

The investigators concluded that treating periodontitis early may be critical to mitigating the risk of stroke associated with oral inflammation and dental procedures.

Read more: Journal of Dental Research

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