While adult oral health has long been associated with cardiovascular disease , the potential long-term effects of poor oral health during childhood remain insufficiently studied. To explore this link, a study investigated whether dental caries and gingivitis in childhood were associated with the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) later in life, analysing data from 568,778 individuals born between 1963 and 1972. The study found that severe childhood dental caries was associated with a higher incidence of ASCVD in adulthood among both males (hazard ratio (HR) 1.32) and females (HR 1.45).
Similarly, high gingivitis scores in childhood were linked to elevated ASCVD risk (males: HR 1.21; females: HR 1.31). Disease trajectories reflecting moderate to severe oral disease and worsening oral health over time were also significantly associated with increased ASCVD…
