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New research has identified that, despite age, body mass index and smoking habits, people with gum disease are still at risk of developing asthma,1 a condition that claims three lives every day in the UK.

The study looked at 220 people; 113 had asthma, 107 did not. After being diagnosed with gum disease, researchers accounted for age, schooling level, osteoporosis, smoking habit and body mass index and still found that adults with gum disease were approximately five times more likely to develop asthma than those without gum disease.

According to Asthma UK,2 5.4 million people in the UK are currently receiving treatment for asthma. The UK has some of the highest rates of asthma across Europe, a fact that could be linked to UK attitudes towards oral health.

The British Dental Health Foundation estimates that less than half of all adults have an acceptable oral hygiene routine. Figures from the Adult Dental Health Survey3 revealed that basic dental products aren't being used as part of an all-round routine. Only three in ten (31%) people use mouthwash and less than one in four (22%) use floss.

The same data also showed 42% of adults only use a toothbrush and toothpaste, with more than one in four (27%) saying they use an electric brush. Furthermore, it also showed how less than one in four adults (24%) do not know what level of fluoride their toothpaste should contain.

Chief Executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, Dr Nigel Carter OBE, said: 'The research points to a significant association between gum disease and asthma. Asthma is in a long line of health problems linked to gum disease that includes heart problems, dementia, pregnancy complications and pancreatic cancer'.