University of Copenhagen Study Links Poor Childhood Oral Health to Higher Risk of Heart Disease in Adulthood

By analysing data on 568,000 children, researchers at the UCPH have found that children with poor dental health have up to a 45% higher incidence of cardiovascular disease as adults. Photo: Getty Images

(IN BRIEF) University of Copenhagen researchers have found that poor dental health during childhood is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes later in life. The study, based on data from more than 568,000 individuals followed into adulthood, showed that children with multiple tooth cavities or severe gingivitis had significantly higher rates of stroke, heart disease, and coronary artery disease as adults. The researchers suggest that chronic inflammation caused by dental disease may play a role, although the study does not establish a direct causal link. The findings highlight the importance of preventive dental care in childhood and suggest that improved monitoring and targeted prevention could help reduce long-term health risks.

(PRESS RELEASE) COPENHAGEN, 2-Mar-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — University of Copenhagen researchers have identified a strong association between poor oral health in childhood and an increased risk of serious health conditions later in life. A new large-scale study indicates that children who experience frequent tooth decay or severe gum inflammation are significantly more likely to develop cardiovascular diseases such as stroke, heart attack, and coronary artery disease as adults.

The research team analysed health records for more than 568,000 individuals born during the 1960s and 1970s, using data from the Danish Health Authority’s National Child Odontology Registry and comparing it with cardiovascular disease records from the National Patient Register through 2018. By following participants into adulthood, the researchers were able to examine how childhood dental health related to long-term cardiovascular outcomes.

The findings revealed a clear pattern linking dental disease in childhood with later cardiovascular risk. Individuals who had multiple tooth cavities as children showed up to a 45 percent higher incidence of cardiovascular disease in adulthood compared with those who had few cavities. Similarly, individuals who experienced severe gingivitis in childhood had up to a 41 percent higher incidence of cardiovascular disease. Although the exact figures varied between men and women, the association remained evident across both groups. The risk also appeared to increase as the severity of dental problems during childhood rose.

The researchers emphasize that the study identifies statistical associations rather than direct causes. One possible explanation for the relationship involves inflammation. Nikoline Nygaard, postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Odontology at the University of Copenhagen and one of the study’s authors, explained that long-term exposure to inflammation caused by dental disease during childhood may influence how the body responds to inflammatory processes later in life.

Previous research has also linked gum disease with cardiovascular conditions. Evidence summarized by the World Heart Federation suggests that bacteria associated with gum disease can trigger inflammation elsewhere in the body and contribute to the development of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease.

Related work by the same research group found similar long-term health patterns involving metabolic disease. Children who experienced severe gum disease showed up to an 87 percent higher incidence of type 2 diabetes in adulthood, while those with multiple tooth cavities had a 19 percent higher incidence compared with children with better oral health.

The study was conducted as a nationwide cohort study involving 568,778 individuals born between 1963 and 1972 who had at least two dental health registrations in the National Child Odontology Register. Their records were linked to cardiovascular disease data from 1995 to 2018, when participants were between 30 and 56 years old.

To account for potential confounding factors, the researchers adjusted the analysis for educational level and the presence of type 2 diabetes, both of which are known to influence cardiovascular risk. Although lifestyle factors such as diet and health behaviors may partly explain the associations, the link between poor childhood oral health and cardiovascular disease remained significant even after adjustments.

The researchers note that dental caries is among the most common diseases worldwide and that both tooth decay and gum disease are largely preventable through good oral hygiene practices. Improved prevention and early identification of children at higher risk could potentially reduce long-term health problems.

Merete Markvart, Associate Professor at the Department of Odontology at the University of Copenhagen and co-author of the study, emphasized that a relatively small proportion of children account for the majority of dental disease cases. Identifying children at elevated risk could allow targeted preventive measures with long-term health benefits. She also highlighted that gingivitis remains under-recorded and suggested that routine registration of gum disease in the national dental database could improve research and prevention efforts.

The findings are presented in the studies Childhood oral health is associated with the incidence of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in adulthood and A nationwide registry-based cohort study of the association between childhood dental caries and gingivitis with type 2 diabetes in adulthood.

About the study

The researchers used data from the National Child Odontology Register (SCOR) on all children born between 1963 and 1972 who had at least two SCOR registrations – a total of 568,778 individuals. These were compared with National Patient Register data from 1995–2018 on cardiovascular disease, during which time the same individuals were aged between 30 and 56.

The study is a cohort study, in which a well-defined group is followed over time to examine how a particular exposure (in this case, poor oral health) affects the incidence of disease.

The results were adjusted for the participants’ educational level, which had a clear effect on disease incidence. The researchers also adjusted for the occurrence of type 2 diabetes, as this is a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

The study only examines correlations between oral health and cardiovascular disease and cannot determine causality – meaning it cannot show whether the dental problems directly caused the cardiovascular diseases or whether other factors played a role.

Lifestyle as a key factor

Lifestyle is likely to have a significant impact on the increased incidence of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, and therefore the researchers adjusted their data for educational level. In general, a higher level of education is associated with healthier and longer lives.

“We cannot rule out that lifestyle plays an important role. But even after adjusting for educational level, the incidence of cardiovascular disease is still quite marked,” says Nikoline Nygaard.

Don’t forget the toothbrush

Although the study cannot establish causality, it may still point to a significant potential for prevention. This is especially relevant given that childhood dental caries is one of the most widespread diseases globally – and both dental caries and gum disease can be prevented relatively easily with thorough tooth brushing.

“In Denmark, 20 per cent of children and young people account for 80 per cent of all registered dental disease. If we can identify markers indicating who is at higher risk of various diseases later in life, we can tailor preventive efforts to those groups. And that could have long-term health benefits well into adulthood,” says Merete Markvart, Associate Professor at the Department of Odontology at the University of Copenhagen and co-author of the study.

She points out that gingivitis is generally under-researched, despite its high prevalence among children and adolescents. Thus, she would encourage making registration of gingivitis mandatory in the National Child Odontology Register, the same way tooth cavities are registered.

“It’s not that you can solve cardiovascular disease by treating children’s teeth. But if we target our efforts towards specific groups, you can nudge many people in the right direction simply by improving their oral health,” says Merete Markvart.

Read the two studies ”Childhood oral health is associated with the incidence of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in adulthood” and ”A nationwide registry-based cohort study of the association between childhood dental caries and gingivitis with type 2 diabetes in adulthood”

Media Contact:

Postdoc Nikoline Nygaard
Department of Odontology
Email: nikoline.nygaard@sund.ku.dk
M: +45 61 60 10 15

Associate Professor Merete Markvart
Department of Odontology
Email: mema@sund.ku.dk
M: +45 93 56 56 65

Communications Consultant Sole Bugge Møller
UCPH Communication
Email: sole@adm.ku.dk
M: +45 93 51 84 42

SOURCE: University of Copenhagen