Interesting Connection: Teeth & Arthritis

Although we see a separate group of health professionals when it comes to our mouth (dentist, orthodontist, endodontist, oral surgeon), our oral health is far from being separate from the rest of our body. Often, the condition of our teeth and gums is reflective of the condition of our whole body.

Doctors have known for a while that there’s a connection between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and oral health and now research has put the two together, according to two separate studies presented at a medical conference in Denmark this week.

The first study found that 56% of people who had RA also had a gum condition called periodontitis . This is the inflammation of the gums. They also had fewer teeth than people without RA, more plaque and looser teeth. It’s not all bad news though. Researchers also learned that if the patients with RA received treatment with an anti-TNF therapy (such as etanercept, or Enbrel) for six months, 80% showed improvement in their mouth.

The second study looked at people who had periodontal disease and then were diagnosed with RA. This study found that non-smokers who had moderate to severe periodontitis could also be at a greater risk for developing RA.

So, back to the basics of mouth care: brush, floss and see your dentist regularly!

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