Circular link between gum disease and rheumatoid arthritis revealed in new study

[Mij]

February 12, 2026

Association between periodontitis and rheumatoid arthritis is long established, but which comes first has long been debated by scientists.

Researchers have uncovered compelling evidence of a two-way relationship between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and periodontitis (gum disease), showing that treating gum disease can significantly reduce inflammation and improve RA symptoms for patients.

The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology, examined how microbial imbalances in the mouth – known as dysbiosis – contribute to systemic inflammation in RA patients.

We found that treating gum disease through intensive periodontal therapy broke this cycle: it improved RA activity scores, reduced antibodies to oral pathogens, and re-established a balanced interaction between oral microbes and the immune system within three months.

Professor Iain Chapple, University of Birmingham

Key Findings

• RA patients exhibited distinct oral microbiomes, even before gum disease developed. These microbial communities were richer and more diverse than those in healthy individuals and formed dense interaction networks.
• Certain bacteria, such as Cryptobacterium curtum and Prevotella species, were strongly associated with RA and correlated with pro-inflammatory cytokines.
• RA patients had higher levels of antibodies against oral pathogens, particularly Porphyromonas gingivalis, a bacterium linked to protein citrullination – a process implicated in RA autoimmunity.
• Severity of gum disease strongly correlated with RA activity scores, including joint swelling and pain.

 

[Jonathan Edwards]

This story has been going for at least thirty years for things like Prevotella. As a general story of course it goes back a century. People had their teeth taken out to cure everything including RA in the nineteenth century if I remember rightly.

I doubt these are blinded studies and if not the activity assessments are not objective.

 

[MeSci]

February 12, 2026

Association between periodontitis and rheumatoid arthritis is long established, but which comes first has long been debated by scientists.

Researchers have uncovered compelling evidence of a two-way relationship between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and periodontitis (gum disease), showing that treating gum disease can significantly reduce inflammation and improve RA symptoms for patients.

The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology, examined how microbial imbalances in the mouth – known as dysbiosis – contribute to systemic inflammation in RA patients.


Key Findings

• RA patients exhibited distinct oral microbiomes, even before gum disease developed. These microbial communities were richer and more diverse than those in healthy individuals and formed dense interaction networks.
• Certain bacteria, such as Cryptobacterium curtum and Prevotella species, were strongly associated with RA and correlated with pro-inflammatory cytokines.
• RA patients had higher levels of antibodies against oral pathogens, particularly Porphyromonas gingivalis, a bacterium linked to protein citrullination – a process implicated in RA autoimmunity.
• Severity of gum disease strongly correlated with RA activity scores, including joint swelling and pain.

When I had a tooth removed that was infected, my raised blood pressure and my polyuria both disappeared. Sadly my ME didn't, but it was definitely a great improvement!

This was 2 years ago, and I had been taking both blood pressure medication and antidiuretic medication for many years.