Chronic gum disease (periodontitis) may worsen bone deterioration in people with osteoporosis by disrupting the microorganisms that support gut health, according to collaborative research between Griffith University and Nanjing University in China.

The study reveals the biological mechanism linking oral inflammation to whole-body bone loss, highlighting the importance of maintaining oral health as part of osteoporosis management, particularly for older adults.

Dental specialist Distinguished Professor Yin Xiao from the School of Medicine and Dentistry said the mechanism for the connection between periodontitis and osteoporosis was previously only observational and not given much attention.

“Periodontitis doesn’t just disturb oral microbiota, it also affects the gastrointestinal microbiome, impairing gut barrier integrity and elevating systemic inflammation,” Professor Xiao said.

“The findings suggest periodontitis is an under recognised risk factor for people living with osteoporosis.

“Elderly individuals affected by both conditions face substantially higher fracture risk than those with either disease alone.

“Until now, the association between periodontitis and osteoporosis has not been given much attention.

“This research provides evidence of a bidirectional connection, showing how each condition can influence and intensify the other.”

While periodontitis was known to cause bone loss in the jaw, the study demonstrated how oral inflammation may also accelerate bone deterioration throughout the body.

Gut microbiota played a crucial role in regulating systemic bone metabolism, including calcium absorption, inflammatory responses, and endocrine factors involved in bone formation and resorption.

The findings suggested oral health may play a role in systemic bone health, offering a potential avenue for future approaches to patient care.

The study was conducted in ovariectomized mice, which offered a research model of post-menopausal osteoporosis.

The paper ‘Periodontitis aggravates bone loss through gut microbiota alterations in ovariectomized mice’ was published in npj Biofilms Microbiomes.