Dental Research Reveals Correlation Between Oral Health and Arthritis

After many years of research, it has been determined that there is a very real link between the condition of one’s oral health and the rest of the body. While most now know the connection between the mouth and the heart, there is now evidence that there is also a relation between your oral health and arthritis.

Common Bacterium Triggers Both Periodontitis and Rheumatoid Arthritis

A bacterium that causes chronic inflammatory gum infections also triggers the inflammatory autoimmune response characteristic of chronic, joint-destroying rheumatoid arthritis (RA), according to the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. The researchers report that these findings have important implications for the prevention and treatment of RA.

“This is like putting together the last few pieces of a complicated jigsaw puzzle that has been worked on for many years,” said Felipe Andrade, MD, PhD, senior study investigator, associate professor of medicine at the school, and practitioner at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. “This research may be the closest we’ve come to uncovering the root cause of RA,” said first author Maximilian Konig, MD, a former Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Fellow and now a practitioner at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Superior Service

At C R Dental Group in Dallas, Texas, we take great measures to help our patients stay on top of their oral care by providing thorough dental cleanings and keeping our patients abreast of any treatment needs. This helps our patients to be proactive and manage their health before serious implications arise. Call our office to schedule your next dental cleaning and start taking control of your overall health today.