Asthma increases chances of gum disease
New research has found that those who suffer from asthma are 18.8% more likely to suffer from gum disease.
The research analysed 21 papers which discussed the relationship between asthma and oral health in over 120,000 people, and found that people with asthma were almost one fifth more likely to suffer from periodontitis.
“We have known for some time that there are close links between oral health and systemic disease, such as heart disease and diabetes,” Dr Nigel Carter OBE, CEO of the Oral Health Foundation, said. “This new study is hugely significant as it could help many millions of asthma sufferers from having to deal with further significant health problems.”
There are currently 5.4 million people in the UK suffering from asthma, according to Asthma UK.
The UK has one of the highest rates of asthma across Europe. Meanwhile, gum disease is one of the biggest non-communicable diseases globally.
“While gum disease can be treated very effectively, the best approach is certainly prevention and making sure we do not fall foul of it at all,” Dr Carter said.
He went on to “encourage anybody who suffers from asthma to be especially alert to the early signs of gum disease, which include red inflamed gums, bleeding when brushing your teeth and persistent bad breath, and ensure that you visit your dentist as soon as possible to get checked out and avoid any further problems.”
“We welcome more research on this topic,” Dr Carter noted, “as a greater understanding could be a game-changer in stopping asthma suffers also developing gum disease.”
