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Twenty years ago, a landmark study first connected gum health with systemic inflammation.
When research is replicated and reinforced over time, it becomes difficult to ignore. The 2003 study showed periodontal disease raises C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of inflammation. Elevated CRP is associated with increased risk for heart disease, diabetes, and some cancers.
Ask yourself: has your cardiologist or primary care physician ever discussed how oral health affects the rest of your body?
Many clinicians haven’t—often because it takes years for emerging science to filter into textbooks and training. Still, the evidence has been clear for two decades.
That’s why I created the CRP Letter in 2015. It’s a concise, research-backed handout patients can share with both their dentist and medical doctor to explain the oral-systemic connection.
The CRP Letter is intended to:
- Help patients with elevated CRP, heart disease, or inflammatory conditions communicate the potential role of gum disease.
- Educate clinicians about oral-systemic links so they can consider oral health when evaluating inflammation-related illness.
- Encourage collaboration between dentists and MDs for better diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes.
Since that initial research, many studies have reinforced the link between periodontal disease and systemic inflammation. Notable examples include:
- 2022 study: Found periodontal therapy reduced CRP levels, indicating treatment of gum disease lowers systemic inflammation.
- 2004 study: Demonstrated that oral bacteria can enter the bloodstream and trigger immune responses that elevate CRP.
- 2011 study: Reported improved cardiovascular outcomes in patients who received treatment for gum disease.
- 2022 study: Highlighted associations between poor gum health, increased inflammation, and greater cardiac stress—suggesting oral hygiene may reduce heart failure risk.
- 2024 study: Identified links between gum disease and higher systemic inflammation, implying that improving oral health can support overall health.
The pattern is consistent: multiple studies across years repeatedly show that periodontal health influences systemic inflammation. This accumulation of evidence is meaningful.
What can you do?
- Share this newsletter or the CRP Letter with your doctor and dentist—print it or bring it to your next appointment.
- Ask your physician about your CRP levels. If they’re elevated, discuss whether gum disease might be contributing.
- Take charge of oral health: regular brushing, flossing, and working with a dentist who understands the oral-systemic connection are essential steps.
I’m working to bring dentists and MDs together on this issue, but patient advocacy matters. The more people raise the topic with their providers, the faster clinical practice will reflect the science.
Are you with me? Let’s make sure the next twenty years look different—where oral health gets the attention it deserves as part of whole-body care.
To your health,
Dr. B
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