Oral health's many pluses
Researchers find a link between the bacteria responsible for gum diseases and early onset of rheumatoid arthritis
Studies have indicated that oral health is linked to rheumatoid arthritis, a seemingly unrelated autoimmune disease. Rheumatologists are now looking at people’s oral health too since the link has been established in quite a few clinical researches.
“Researchers have found a definite association between the bacteria responsible for gum diseases and early onset of rheumatoid arthritis and faster progress of the degenerative disease that deforms limbs,” said rheumatologist Padmanabha Shenoy.
While it was earlier known that gum diseases were common in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, research had now found that an enzyme produced by the bacteria in the mouth triggered a series of reactions that produced an antibody responsible for rheumatoid arthritis, he said.
“It takes an average of about seven years for people to diagnose the disease and about nine years to take modifying treatment. If rheumatoid arthritis is diagnosed in less than six months, patients are found to have good prognosis of normal life but the delay in diagnosis destroys cartilage because of the persisting inflammation in the joints,” he said.
He pointed out how gum diseases delayed the outcome of treatment in patients with rheumatic arthritis. Gum diseases also increased the severity of arthritis.
“It is a relatively new finding and population-based studies are yet to happen here,” Dr. Shenoy said.
In Kerala, rheumatoid arthritis is prevalent in one per cent of the population, affecting about three lakh people.
Oral medicine and radiology professor Seema Kurup said studies had shown that people affected with periodontal diseases were susceptible to other systemic problems.
“There are multiple bacteria in the mouth of patients with gum diseases but a dental practitioner at best counsels patients on the various possibilities. Only when a patient with gum diseases confirms about arthritic problem, they are directed for arthritic treatment as well.”
Dr. Kurup said it had also been found that arthritic patients also suffered from stiff mandible, which made chewing difficult.
“As rheumatoid arthritis affects the bones, the joint between the head and the neck that acts as a pivot for opening and closing the mouth is also affected. The muscles around the joint get weakened and in effect influences the overall oral health,” she added.
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