Evidence shows that good oral health can improve general health and reduce medical costs

Periodontitis is characterised by chronic inflammation of the gums in response to a microbial biofilm accumulating around and below the gingival (gum) margins. On the basis of the evidence, the European Federation of Periodontology is able to state that periodontitis is significantly and independently associated with the major non-communicable diseases of ageing that account for 70% of mortality in the world today, including cardiovascular disease, Type-2 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic kidney disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.1

Severe periodontitis adversely affects blood-sugar levels in people without diabetes and blood-sugar control in people who do have diabetes. The more severe the periodontitis, the worse the associated diabetes complications (mainly cardiac and renal). Overall, studies show that successful periodontal treatment improves diabetes outcomes. Severe periodontal disease also imparts significantly elevated risk for coronary artery (heart) disease and stroke and it has been shown that periodontal therapy improves cardiovascular (heart) outcome measures (with most data in humans based on biomarker outcomes of heart disease, such as endothelial function and vascular elasticity).

Treatment of periodontitis improves the overall systemic health by reducing systemic inflammation, improving diabetes outcomes and provides a better quality of life.  Health-economic data provide new, independent, and potentially valuable evidence that well- performed, non-invasive periodontal therapy may significantly reduce healthcare costs for people with diabetes, stroke, or coronary artery disease.2  According to a major US study, treatment of periodontal disease to a defined end-point reduces annual medical costs in patients diagnosed with Type-2 diabetes by 40%, in those with heart-disease (coronary artery disease) by 11%, and in those with stroke (cerebrovascular disease) by 41%. 

However, by far the most effective intervention is periodontal prevention, where evidence suggests that primary prevention of inflammation of the gums by individuals, supported by professional plaque control, is a very effective method for preventing the development of more severe gum disease and thereby preventing the possible resulting systemic effects. 3

1. Source: EFP/AAP workshop on periodontitis and systemic diseases, 2012. J Clin Periodontol 2013; 40(S14):20-3
2. Source: (Am J Prev Med 2014;47(2):166–174) & 2014 American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Impact of Periodontal Therapy on General Health. Evidence from Insurance Data for Five Systemic Conditions. Marjorie K. Jeffcoat, DMD, Robert L. Jeffcoat, PhD, Patricia A. Gladowski, RN, MSN, James B. Bramson, DDS, Jerome J. Blum, DDS
3. XI European Workshop of Periodontology, “Effective prevention of periodontal and peri-implant diseases”, 2014. J Clin Periodontol 2015; 42 (S16).