​A new study has strengthened the link between gum disease and increased risk for future stroke.

The research shows a graded relationship with the extent of gum disease and stroke risk, finding that regular dental care was associated with a lower stroke risk.

'This effort is one of the largest, US-based community studies of periodontal disease, dental care utilisation, and ischemic stroke,' lead author, Souvik Sen of the University of South Carolina School of Medicine, explained.

'Our results show that individuals who regularly attend the dentist had half the stroke risk of those who do not receive regular dental care. And our study of periodontal disease showed the more severe this is, the higher the risk of future stroke.'

In particular, periodontal disease characterised by increased inflammation had the strongest association with stroke risk. 'The risk conferred by gum disease is similar to that of high blood pressure — it is in the range of two to three times increased risk,' he added.

The relationship between gum disease and myocardial infarction is already well established, and previous studies have shown an association between gum disease and stroke.

He said: 'Our current results strengthen that link. If causal, these associations would be of great importance because of the potential that periodontal disease treatment could reduce the stroke risk.'

The study was published online in Stroke on January 15.

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