Link between Periodontitis and Prostatitis

Periodontitis, in layman's terms, is an inflammatory disease that affects the soft tissues that support the teeth. As a result of chronic inflammation, people suffering from periodontitis experience progressive bone loss in the alveolar bone – the bone that contains the tooth sockets supporting the teeth. As a direct result of this bone loss, patients with periodontitis may eventually lose their teeth.
Caused by a combination of microorganisms eating away at the tooth surface and an aggressive immune system response to these microorganisms, people with periodontitis might notice some of these symptoms:

- A constant metallic taste in the mouth
- Loose teeth
- Persistent bad breath
- Recurrent gum swelling - Receding gums
- Red or bleeding gums after brushing teeth, utilizing dental floss, or eating hard foods


If you notice these symptoms, you should contact a periodontist immediately, because researchers have concluded over the last few years that periodontitis has implications that reach beyond the mouth.

The Latest Research: The Link Between Periodontitis and Prostatitis

Research in the last decade has shown that people with periodontitis also have an increased risk for heart attacks, strokes, and rheumatoid arthritis. Researchers at Case Western Reserve University recently reported in the Journal of Periodontology that there may also be a link between inflamed gums and inflamed prostate glands.

The Case Western researchers looked at two indicators in 35 men: the PSA level, or prostate-specific antigen, and the CAL level, or clinical attachment level of gums and teeth. When men have an elevated PSA level, this can be a sign of either inflammation or malignancy in the prostate. Likewise, when periodontal patients have an elevated CAL level, this can indicate peridontitis.
Nabil Bissada, the chair of Case Western's Department of Periodontics, noted that some men have a high PSA level, but nothing happening in the prostate gland itself explains the elevated level. Bissada told ScienceDaily.com that the inflammatory reaction must be caused by “something outside the prostate gland” (Source: ScienceDaily.com, April 28, 2010).

The conclusion of the Case Western study, which was carried out by members of the University's Dental School, Department of Urology, and Institute of Pathology at the University Hospital, is that patients with the most severe forms of prostatitis also had signs of periodontitis.

What This Study Means for Your Health

The studies of the last several years show clear links between periodontitis and major, life-threatening diseases. Treating periodontitis early, therefore, isn't just a decision to maintain the health of your mouth, but treating periodontitis early could actually help save your life!