According to a U.S study, Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can increase the risk of gum disease.

A link between RA and periodontal disease has already been suggested by a previous study.

In the current study, the researchers examined 153 patients (ages 45 to 84) who had RA for an average of 11 year. Among them almost 82% patients reported periodontal symptoms like gum bleeding, swollen gum, gum recession etc.

The researchers found after further analysis that periodontal disease was particularly linked with a patient’s RA disease activity score and rheumatoid nodules.

Dr. Clifton O. Bingham, who led the study, says that: “Our findings show a high prevalence of moderate to severe periodontal disease in RA patients and strongly suggest a link between these two inflammatory diseases. To explain this link further and better understand the pathobiologic mechanisms, we will conduct a number of additional studies soon.”

Bingham adds, “It has been noted that treatment of periodontal disease can improve other systemic conditions even diabetes and it may also lower cardiovascular risk.”

The study will be presented on Tuesday at the annual scientific meeting of the ACR, in San Francisco.