Each May marks National Arthritis Awareness Month, which draws awareness to the condition. Approximately over 53 million individuals in the United States suffer from some form of arthritis, according to Flushing Hospital Medical Center. Arthritis can impact anyone of any age.
Some of the most common types of arthritis include osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriatic arthritis:
- Osteoarthritis: This is the most common type of arthritis. It occurs when the body’s cartilage wears down and is less able to function as a shock absorber when stress is applied to your joints. Osteoarthritis commonly causes symptoms of pain and morning stiffness.
- Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA): This type of arthritis is a result of an autoimmune disease that causes the immune system to attack the joints. The chronic inflammation can cause the joints to breakdown and lead to joint pain, stiffness, and swelling.
- Psoriatic Arthritis: Individuals diagnosed with psoriasis often experience inflammation of the skin and joints.
There is often the misconception that there is no treatment for arthritis, however this is not true. Some treatments can include physical therapy, medications, and in extreme cases surgery. If you feel that you may have symptoms or signs of arthritis, speak with your doctor or with a specialist such as a rheumatologist or orthopedist who can help assess your symptoms. They can determine an accurate diagnosis and rule out other causes of joint pain.
Arthritis can also play a role in your oral health. Many studies have suggested a potential link between gum disease and RA, revealing that individuals with RA may be more likely to develop gum disease and experience greater severity of symptoms. In 2012, a study found that 65% of study participants with RA had gum disease versus 28% of individuals without RA. Their study reported that individuals with RA were 4X more likely to have gum disease and experience more severe symptoms of gum disease than those without RA. People with RA sometimes have issues with facial joints like the jaws, making maintaining proper oral hygiene sometimes challenging.
Another study reported that individuals suffering from both RA and gum disease had a higher risk of testing positive for antibody to citrullinated protein antigens (ACPA), which has been commonly found to precede the onset of RA and be associated with other antibodies linked to more severe RA. Other studies have shed light on the harm of the common gum disease culprit, Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis), as potentially leading to earlier onset and worsening of RA.
On the bright side, some research has shown an improvement of gum disease and RA with non-surgical treatment of gum disease. Yet, there is a lot of future research necessary to establish a true correlation between gum disease and RA.
Taking care of your oral health needs to be an essential part of RA management, and vice versa.