London - Gum disease may be a warning sign of osteoporosis, according to a Brazilian study.
Researchers assessed the bone health of 33 women, who also had their gums checked, over six years.
The women who developed osteoporosis by the end of the trial were also more likely to have developed gum disease — and 75 percent had bleeding gums.
Osteoporosis occurs when there is an imbalance between the creation of new bone and the removal of old bone — leading to thinner bones. It’s often not diagnosed until someone has a fall and suffers a fracture.
While the link between the two conditions is not clear, inflammation in the body raises the risk of both and may explain it. Genetics may also play a part, says the research from Universitario do Bacanga published in the medical journal Climacteric. - Daily Mail