Oral Health's Connection to Overall Health
CareQuest Institute’s research confirms the link between oral health and overall health. A new brief outlines how tooth decay, gum disease, and more can have an impact on diabetes, respiratory health, and blood pressure.
Some key findings from the report:
- People with periodontal disease (PD)—also called “gum disease”—have a 28% higher risk of suffering their first heart attack than those without this disease.
- Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is believed to cause 70% of throat cancers, which occur in the oropharynx—the tongue, the rear of the mouth, and the upper portion of the throat.
- Researchers in Japan studied more than 1,500 older adults and found that tooth loss was a risk factor for dementia. Another research paper concluded that tooth loss “may be a predictor” of dementia.
The growing evidence connecting oral health with overall health provides helpful insights to inform state policies and integrating oral health into broader health strategies remains key.
You may also be interested in:
- The Link Between Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia and the Mouth underscores the breadth of health issues that ongoing oral health care can protect against.
- Impacts Beyond the Mouth, an infographic that highlights the connection between oral health and overall health.
- Recording and slides from two recent webinars:
