Your Rheumatologist Should Be Asking About Your Gums
Quick answer Gum disease and rheumatoid arthritis are linked in both directions: people with periodontal disease develop rheumatoid arthritis more often, and moderate-to-severe periodontitis is roughly three times as common in people who have rheumatoid arthritis. The mechanism is specific — Porphyromonas gingivalis carries its own citrullinating enzyme, producing exactly the modified proteins rheumatoid arthritis…
