Air pollution can worsen periodontal disease
Particulate matter increases oxidative stress and intensifies inflammatory response
Exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5), a main component of urban air pollution, causes changes in oral tissues and accelerates the destruction of periodontal tissues that support teeth, according to a new study.
The study by researchers at São Paulo State University (UNESP) and the University of São Paulo (USP) demonstrated that PM2.5 exacerbates inflammation in periodontal tissues and intensifies alveolar bone loss.
“It’s already well documented that pollution affects various organs,” aid Luis Carlos Spolidorio, a professor at the UNESP School of Dentistry in Araraquara and coordinator of the study published in the journal Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health.
“Since the oral cavity is constantly exposed to the external environment, we suspected that it might also be affected by pollution. What we didn’t expect to observe were such significant changes in oral tissues.
“We’ve demonstrated in a controlled experimental setting that the oral mucosa undergoes changes when exposed to fine particulate matter.
“This finding represents an important advance since previous studies were limited to identifying correlations between air pollution and oral diseases.
“With our study, we were able to elucidate the cellular and molecular mechanisms linking exposure to the pollutant to the changes observed in the oral cavity.”
According to Professor Spolidorio, the effects of air pollution on oral tissues likely involve multiple biological mechanisms. This is because the oral cavity is one of the main interfaces between the body and the external environment.
“Thus, inhaled particles can come into direct contact with the oral mucosa, triggering local inflammatory responses. Furthermore, after reaching the lungs, these particles can induce systemic inflammation and oxidative stress, which can affect distant organs and tissues, including the oral cavity,” he said.
The results of the study reinforce the existence of a biological link between exposure to air pollution and changes in oral tissues. “Although further studies are needed to fully understand these mechanisms in humans, the data shows that oral health can also be influenced by the quality of the air we breathe,” said Professor Spolidorio.