If your joints are giving you trouble, you may want to open wide: The bacteria responsible for gum disease could also trigger rheumatoid arthritis, a new study in the journal PLOS Pathogens reports.
Previous research has demonstrated a link between the two diseases—but only to the extent that they often exist simultaneously. Scientists have speculated that periodontitis (oral inflammation caused by bacteria) and rheumatoid arthritis (an autoimmune disorder) share a common genetic or behavioral thread, like smoking. “People with specific genetic backgrounds are susceptible to [the autoimmune response]. This is very well established,” says study author Jan Potempa, M.D. “But many rheumatoid arthritis patients were never smoking.”
That’s why he turned his attention to porphyromonas gingivalis, one of the bacteria that colonizes in our plaque, resulting in a cascade of inflammation and eventually gum disease. Dr. Potempa and his crew found that mice exposed to this oral bacteria not only developed rheumatoid arthritis faster than non-infected rodents, but also experienced more severe bone and cartilage destruction.
Yes, the study was done with mice, Dr. Potempa concedes. “But it’s very likely that this scenario may happen in periodontal patients,” he says.
Researchers are currently working toward a vaccine against porphyromonas gingivalis, but in the meantime, good old-fashioned oral hygiene is a solid defense. “Twice a year, go and see the oral hygienist to clean your teeth and remove the plaque,” says Dr. Potempa. “This is the best way to prevent periodontal disease—to prevent the sequence leading to rheumatoid arthritis.”
For more gum disease-prevention tips, see how to keep your mouth clean and pain-free.
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