Although previous studies have suggested a link between periodontitis and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the relationship and its implications have not been fully understood. In a large-scale study – the first of its kind in a European population – researchers from the University of Malmö, in collaboration with other European researchers, found evidence of a strong link between the two diseases.
IBD is a group of inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, mainly Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. The incidence of IBD is on the rise worldwide, with more than 1.3 million people in Europe suffering from it. Its cause remains unknown, but it is believed to be an inadequate immune response.
Periodontitis and IBD are chronic inflammatory diseases with a similar complex pathogenesis. “Both diseases can be described as a strong overreaction of the immune system to a theoretically relatively mild bacterial trigger. In other words, the immune system attacks its own body,” co-author Andreas Stavropoulos, professor at the Faculty of Dentistry, explained in a university press release.
The study was conducted in Denmark and data was collected using an online questionnaire, which was answered by about 1100 patients with IBD (of which about half had Crohn's disease and the rest had ulcerative colitis) and about 3400 people from control group without IBD.
An evaluation of the responses to the survey showed that patients with IBD are more likely to perceive the general condition of their teeth and gums as deteriorating and have severe periodontitis. Those patients diagnosed with Crohn's disease reported worse oral health than those diagnosed with ulcerative colitis and were more likely to lose more teeth than the control group.
“Research shows that patients with IBD have more periodontal disease and fewer teeth compared to people without IBD. We also noted that patients with both IBD and periodontitis have an exacerbation of intestinal disease with higher activity than IBD patients who do not have oral health problems,” commented the professor. Stavropoulos.
Based on the results of the study, the research team concluded that patients with IBD should be closely monitored to prevent the development of periodontitis and/or slow its progression. “Equally important, the treatment of periodontitis can have a positive impact on the treatment of IBD,” emphasized Prof. Stavropoulos.