Research continues to highlight link between oral health, chronic diseases, longevity
Experts detailed how treating the oral cavity as the gateway to systemic inflammation can lead to improvements in overall health.
Recent studies have increasingly found that oral diseases may be strongly associated with chronic inflammation and conditions ranging from cardiovascular disease to diabetes, liver disease, arthritis and Alzheimer’s disease, according to a news article from The Wall Street Journal. As a result, the divide generally considered to exist between dentistry and medicine has become far narrower with oral health being integrated into medical training and dentists being educated on the potential two-way relationship between oral and chronic diseases.
However, oral health issues such as dental decay, periodontal disease, and tooth loss remain prevalent among U.S. adults — particularly among older adults — contributing to years lived with disability and declines in quality of life and health-related longevity in later life. The experts explained that the formation of dental plaque can lead to periodontal inflammation and can shed pathogenic oral bacteria into the bloodstream, allowing for the transportation of bacteria or their byproducts to other parts of the body. Novel therapeutic options designed to be administered alongside standard dental treatments could help the body manage its immune response to periodontal disease and limit the downstream adverse effects of chronic inflammation emerging in oral tissue. Researchers are currently looking to identify strategies to help preserve periodontal tissue, alleviate inflammation as well as detect and monitor oral health changes using artificial intelligence and oral sensors. However, the experts noted that studies have already shown that regular dental care can reduce the burden of more than just oral and overall diseases; they can also decrease healthcare costs and the risk of complications during hospitalization.
The experts indicated that the growing body of findings validating the oral-systemic connection may help inform policies intended to enhance oral health care and dental coverage as well as encourage medical specialists to refer their patients to dentists to address untreated oral health issues. Continued interdisciplinary collaboration between dentists and other healthcare professionals could help advance the standard of care in oral diseases by providing a whole-body picture of the patient’s health.
Read more: The Wall Street Journal
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