More and more studies show the relationship between oral health and overall health.
A more recent one published in the American Journal of Hypertension suggests that postmenopausal women who have experienced loss of tooth have approximately 20% increased risk of developing high blood pressure during follow-up compared to other women. The link is said to be stronger among younger women and those with lower BMI (body mass index).
SEE ALSO: Poor Oral Health Is Linked to Bad Blood Pressure Control
The study involved over 36,000 postmenopausal women in the Women’s Health Initiative-Observational Study (WHI-OS) in the US, who were followed annually from initial periodontal assessment in 1998 through 2015 for newly diagnosed hypertension.
The researchers believed that improving the oral hygiene among those at risk for tooth loss as well as preventative measures like closer blood pressure monitoring, dietary modification physical activity, and weight loss may reduce the risk of hypertension.
The study also suggests that tooth loss may serve as a clinical warning sign for increased risk of high blood pressure.
