Tooth Loss Danger For Women

The reason is unclear, but a new study has found that postmenopausal women who have lost teeth are at greater risk of developing high blood pressure than women who have kept their teeth. This news comes from a U.S. study including 36,692 postmenopausal women. The participants were followed yearly after their dental health was assessed in 1998 through 2015. The researchers found that 20 percent of those who had lost teeth developed high blood pressure. This link was strongest among younger and slimmer women (those with a lower body mass index). The researchers suggested one possible explanation: that women change their diets after losing teeth, eating softer and more processed foods that could be associated with a higher risk of high blood pressure. They found no link between periodontal (gum) disease and high blood pressure. The team suggested that improved dental hygiene among women at risk for tooth loss, as well as closer blood pressure monitoring and other steps to reduce the risk of hypertension, might prove helpful.

Source:
Jean Wactawski-Wende et al, “Association of Periodontal Disease and Edentulism With Hypertension Risk in Postmenopausal Women.” American Journal of Hypertension, 2018; DOI: 10.1093/ajh/h

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