Mechanism linking gum disease to inflammatory conditions discovered

And the research might offer a clue as to why patients with periodontal disease may be much more likely to have negative outcomes with COVID-19.

The research by the University of Toronto's Faculty of Dentistry say it is related to the body's own hyperactive immune response.

The researchers focused on the behaviours of cells primarily activated by gum disease – neutrophils, which are cells of the innate immune system.

Through in vivo models, they found that the immune system releases an abundance of these neutrophils to tackle the bacterial infections responsible for periodontitis.

Activated to fight an oral infection, a systemic effect was noted: once periodontal inflammation was present, an overabundance of neutrophils circulated, 'primed' for attack. The hyper-vigilant immune system then responds with an excess of force to any secondary infection.