Newswise — If you constantly exhibit anger and are a social hermit, such stressors might put your oral health at risk, according to a study in this month's Journal of the American Dental Association.
Results from the study reveal that men who reported being angry on a daily basis had a 43 percent higher risk of developing periodontitis (gum disease) compared with men who reported seldom being angry, wrote the Harvard University researchers. In addition, men who reported having at least one close friend had a 30 percent lower risk of developing periodontitis compared with those who did not.
The study authors cited stress as being associated with poor oral hygiene, increased glucocorticoid secretion that can depress immune function and increased insulin resistance. All of these mechanisms, they wrote, can potentially increase the risk of developing periodontitis.
The American Dental Association (ADA) defines gum disease (also called periodontal disease) as an infection of the tissues surrounding and supporting the teeth. It is a major cause of tooth loss in adults.
In the study, researchers examined the association between social support, anger expression and gum disease in 42, 523 male health professionals. The subjects were aged 40 to 75 years at the beginning of the study in 1986, and more than half were dentists. The men were free of a diagnosis of periodontitis at the start of the follow-up in 1996. However, over the next four years, 1,122 or 2.6 percent reported having received a professional diagnosis of periodontitis.
Other study findings are that men who participated in religious meetings or services had a 27 percent lower risk of developing gum disease compared with men who did not participate in religious meetings. Divorced, widowed and never-married men were at a slightly higher risk of developing periodontitis compared with married men.
"Case series, cross-sectional studies and case-control studies have reported consistent findings with regard to the association between increased stress and periodontitis," they wrote. "Our findings from a prospective cohort study confirm the results of these studies."
The researchers concluded, "Reduced social isolation and anger expression may play an important role in maintaining oral health, as well as general health and well-being."
The ADA says that because gum disease is usually painless and you may not know you have it. The ADA recommends that you see your dentist immediately if you notice any of the following signs of gum disease:· gums that bleed when you brush your teeth; · red, swollen or tender gums; · gums that have pulled away from the teeth; · bad breath that doesn't go away; · pus between your teeth and gums; · loose teeth; · a change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite; and · a change in the fit of partial dentures.
The not-for-profit ADA is the nation's largest dental association, representing more than 147,000 members. The premier source of oral health information, the ADA has advocated for the public's health and promoted the art and science of dentistry since 1859. The ADA's state-of-the-art research facilities develop and test dental products and materials that have advanced the practice of dentistry and made the patient experience more positive. The ADA Seal of Acceptance long has been a valuable and respected guide to consumer and professional products. For more information about the ADA, visit the Association's Web site at http://www.ada.org.
Note: Although this article appears in the Journal of the American Dental Association, it does not necessarily reflect the policies or opinions of the American Dental Association.
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