There are more and more studies linking periodontitis to an increased risk of other pathologies, diseases whose consequences go beyond oral health. It can be said that oral health, and especially periodontal health, has an impact on the overall health of a person.
Specific mechanisms have been found that intervene in the pathogenesis of diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and Alzheimer’s disease and appear to originate from periodontal inflammation, such as citrullination and tau proteins.
In other pathologies such as vascular diseases and prematurity, the association with periodontitis consistently described in numerous studies appears to have its origin in the constant circulation of bacterial products and inflammatory mediators caused by chronic periodontal inflammation.
Diabetes, which is not addressed in this project, has a one-to-one relationship with periodontitis. The lack of knowledge of this connection by a large part of the population is a fact that is not conducive to the prevention of diseases such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, vascular diseases, etc.; from oral care.
This lack of knowledge is also linked to the healthcare sector, where pathologies are treated by classifying them according to specialties, often isolated from each other, and where patients are rarely informed about how to approach their care and treatment in other ways.
The reason for visiting the dentist is often an advanced pathology that causes discomfort, inflammation, pain, etc., not on a regular basis, but with a preventive function, which would be the best scenario to ensure better general health.
