20 January 2024 , 07:50
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More than half of UK adults suffer from gum disease, but it can have a far more serious impact on your health than just bleeding gums and bad breath, new research shows.
Poor oral hygiene makes a potentially fatal lung condition worse, according to the results of a new study. Gum disease - also known as periodontitis - has now been found to aggravate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), say scientists. COPD is the sixth-leading cause of death worldwide, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). It is not curable and smoking is the leading cause in higher-income countries including the UK and US. However non-smokers also regularly suffer from COPD.
Periodontitis results from the untreated build-up of plaque, a sticky film made primarily of bacteria. Over time plaque can harden into tartar and cause inflammation in gums. If left it can produce deep gaps between the teeth and gums where bacteria flourish and may lead to bone loss. Previous studies have shown that periodontitis is a risk factor for numerous diseases, including diabetes, high blood pressure and some cancers. This latest study shows that periodontitis activates immune cells associated with aggravated progression of COPD.
The findings, published in the journal mSystems (corr), suggest that periodontitis and COPD together worsen COPD. But it is not all bad news, researchers say that this knowledge means that gum disease management could be a potential treatment for COPD.
Some level of irreversible periodontitis affects almost half of UK adults, according to NHS figures (Getty Images)The research team from West China Hospital of Stomatology at Sichuan University showed that bacteria associated with gum disease activated two types of cells - gamma-delta T cells and M2 macrophages - which are important to the immune system but also promote COPD. By enhancing periodontal therapy and targeting the inhibition of gamma-delta T cells and M2 macrophages we may be able to help control the progression of COPD,” said Microbiologist Dr Boyu Tang, who led the study with microbiologist Dr Yan Li.
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An oral bacteria called Porphyromonas gingivalis plays an important role in gum disease, according to previous studies. In this latest trial the Chinese research team used mice to show how those bacteria could aggravate progression of COPD.
In one experiment, they showed that mice infected with both periodontitis and COPD had worse progression of COPD than mice infected with just COPD. And in experiments using mouse lung tissue, the team showed that P. gingivalis could activate the immune cells, promoting their ability to produce cytokines associated with worsening COPD.
The team said they intend to continue their research. “We’ll further carry out additional studies on human subjects to confirm the mechanism,” Dr Li said. The team plan to recruit patients with both conditions and offer periodontitis treatment, then compare lung function and immune cell counts before and after. Dr Li added: “Our finding could lead to a potential new strategy for treating COPD.”