Lower income and education levels are tied to poor dental health. Researchers found that the lower a person's income and education level, the more likely that person would suffer from severe periodontitis, or advanced gum disease that can lead to tooth loss.The finding remained true even after adjusting for age, gender and neighborhood income level. Living in a lower socioeconomic neighborhood wasn't always linked to poor dental health, but, in this study, low-income whites living in disadvantaged neighborhoods had almost twice the rate of severe periodontitis as the general population.
The study's authors suggest more research into the ways neighborhoods can influence health-related behaviors, especially among less-educated and lower-income individuals.
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