Symptoms of gum disease are common in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In fact, they may be an independent marker of RA disease activity.
About 20 million people worldwide have RA, which causes pain, stiffness and swelling in multiple joints. Inflammation can develop in other organs as well, and studies have suggested that RA raises heart risks.
Researchers surveyed the oral health of more than 150 patients with RA, and found that patients with more active RA had more symptoms of gum disease. The results suggest that the prevalence of gum disease in patients with RA is at least twice that seen in the general population, and that more than 30 percent of RA patients have severe periodontal disease.