Gum Disease Is Likely To Cause Early Death In Women

A new study suggests that gum disease is associated with earlier death in older women. It is a serious reminder to maintain an oral health.

According to Health24, about one-third of adults aged 60 and above in the United States had a total tooth loss. The condition often results from gum disease, which affects almost two-thirds of people 60-year-old and above.

"Older women may be at higher risk for death because of their periodontal condition," Michael LaMonte, a study author of the study said. He is also a research associate professor of epidemiology at the University at Buffalo, in New York.

To find evidence, LaMonte and his colleagues followed 57, 000 women aged 55 and older. After almost seven years, over 3, 800 of the participants died and 3, 589 of deaths were due to heart disease.

Cardiovascular diseases are 62.5 percent top 10 leading cause of death among South African females aged 65 and above as per Statistics South Africa. On the other hand, previous cases of gum diseases are more likely to cause 12 percent death with any other health condition of the patients, researchers found.

According to the study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, some women lose all their teeth throughout the study period. These women were also found less educated, having a higher risk of heart disease and fewer dental checkups. They are as well 17 percent more likely to die due to any cause, the researchers said.

"Dental hygiene is an important part of our patients' overall health, and perhaps with this study, it may prompt us to further investigate its direct impact on the heart," Dr. Rachel Bond, associate director for Women's Heart Health at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City said.

However, the study didn't found a link between gum disease or tooth loss and a higher risk of death from heart disease as per the researchers. In addition, Dr. Bond emphasized that there's an unclear association between gum disease and heart disease.