A recent study has discovered that postmenopausal women who suffer from tooth loss could be at greater risk of developing high blood pressure. Should we be concerned?

How did the study work?
The study, whose findings were published in the American Journal of Hypertension, followed 36,692 postmenopausal women annually between 1998 and 2015, covering an initial periodontal assessment through to any hypertension diagnosed at a later stage. The study looked for any link between tooth loss and risk of hypertension in the women, and found that the participants had around 20 per cent greater chance of developing high blood pressure compared with other women.

Why is there a link between tooth loss and hypertension?
There are a number of possible reasons for the link found between tooth loss and high blood pressure. According to the study, one of the possible reasons is that when people lose teeth, they are likely to adjust their diets to include softer, often more processed foods.

What do the findings mean?
The findings of the study suggest that postmenopausal women who have experienced tooth loss are at particular risk of developing high blood pressure, and as such, are at risk of suffering from a range of health issues associated with hypertension. For this reason, the researchers involved in the study suggested that good oral hygiene, as well as careful blood pressure monitoring, dietary adjustments, weight loss, and increased physical activity could all be helpful in reducing the risk of hypertension in this demographic group. Furthermore, the study suggested that tooth loss could serve as a warning sign for an increased risk of high blood pressure.

If you have suffered from tooth loss, we encourage you to come in and see us for a consultation. Thanks to advancements in the field of dentistry, dental implants are now a viable option for many people. In fact, they often serve as an effective solution by restoring oral form and function.

To find out more about dental implants and the importance of replacing a missing tooth, have a look here.

To arrange a consultation, please contact us here.