Severe Gum Disease Is Associated With Impaired Lung Function

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Lung function diminishes with increasingly severe gum disease, according to research from Norway that was presented at the recent EuroPerio10, a world congress in periodontology and implant dentistry organized by the European Federation of Periodontology.

Previous research found that dental cleaning, including harmful plaque removal, is associated with a reduction in symptom flare-ups in those patients struggling with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

This study was performed by a team at the University of Bergen, Norway, which investigated the association between lung function and periodontitis in the community-based Malmö Offspring Dental Study. The Malmö Offspring Study (MOS), a population-based study where participants underwent a thorough cardiovascular phenotyping, such as carotid ultrasonography. The Malmö Offspring Dental Study (MODS) invited participants of MOS for a dental examination, including periodontal charting.

The study included 1021 participants, of which 513 were men and 508 were women. The average age was 44.5 years. A dental check-up was done and the severity of periodontitis was assessed.

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Severe Gum Disease Is Associated With Impaired Lung Function