Poor Dental Health, Other Health Problems Go Hand in Hand
October 13, 2009

By Nancy Volkers
InteliHealth News Service

INTELIHEALTH - Many long-term (chronic) conditions are linked with poor dental health, say results from a national survey. But smoking was even more likely to increase risk of dental problems.

Information came from one of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys. The surveys are done by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Researchers used data from 10,389 people. They all took the survey between 1999 and 2004.

The participants were asked several questions to determine if they had a current dental problem that needed treatment. Dental problems included conditions such as a broken tooth, pain or a cavity. The study found:

• Among all people in the study, 59% needed dental care for a current problem.
• About 55% of nonsmokers and 73% of smokers needed such care.
• Lower-income people were more likely to need dental care for a current problem than higher-income people.
• Non-whites were more likely to need such care than non-Hispanic whites.
• Women were more likely to need such care than men.

The researchers found that people with the following conditions were more likely to have poor oral health and need dental care for a current problem:

• Arthritis
• Heart and artery disease
• Diabetes
• Hepatitis C infection
• Obesity
• Stroke

People with HIV also were very likely to need dental treatment. However, the survey collected information on people with HIV only for adults under 49. All of the other information included all adults, ages 20 and over.

Research has linked diabetes and heart and artery disease with periodontal disease. Studies also have linked obesity with periodontal disease.

The study appears in the October issue of the Journal of the American Dental Association.