Stroke causes more than 7 million new cases each year and is the second leading cause of death worldwide.
Researchers from King’s College London (KCL) and the University of Helsinki in Finland have identified a link between periodontal disease and earlier stroke in patients.
Recently Published Journal of Dental ResearchStudies have revealed that severe periodontal disease, also known as periodontitis, is a risk factor for patients with cryptogenic ischemic stroke (CIS).
Stroke, which occurs when blood supply to the brain is cut off, is currently the second leading cause of death in the world.
Ischemic stroke accounts for more than 7 million new strokes each year, more than 62% of all strokes. Meanwhile, cryptogenic stroke, where the cause cannot be identified, accounts for up to 40% of ischemic strokes and is on the rise among younger people.
Periodontitis is a serious inflammatory gum infection caused by bacteria growing below the gum line and damaging the soft tissue surrounding the teeth.
“Infection can send bacteria from the mouth through the bloodstream to other parts of the body, where their long-term presence can affect our health beyond the mouth,” explained Dr Svetislav Zaric, clinical lecturer in periodontology at KCL’s Centre for Host-Microbiome Interactions.
Patients who experienced CIS underwent clinical and radiological oral examinations as part of a case-control study, which demonstrated that CIS is associated with severe periodontitis.
Additionally, the study showed that stroke severity increased with the severity of periodontitis and was associated with invasive dental procedures, “potentially indicating a direct causal relationship with CIS through bacteremia,” Zaric said.
In an effort to reduce the risk of stroke, including CIS, he added that “dental care and regular dental visits may help reduce the risk of stroke associated with oral health.”
Previous studies have already found that people with periodontal disease are more likely to suffer a stroke, but more research is needed to “estimate the positive impact of oral hygiene on the development of CIS,” Zaric added.
