A study led by the University of Birmingham found that people with gum disease are at increased risk of developing mental disorders and heart disease.
The experts reviewed the medical records of 64,379 patients who had reported periodontal disease, including gingivitis and periodontitis. These data were compared with those of people without periodontal disease. The average age of all participants was 44 years, 43% were men, 30% of the patients were smokers.
The researchers looked at the data to determine how many patients with and without periodontal disease developed cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, depression, and more.
The researchers found that patients with periodontal disease were more likely to receive a diagnosis from the list above. The risk of developing mental disorders increased by 37%, and cardiovascular diseases by 18%. For other diseases, the risk was also increased.
