A Bald Patch? It Could Be A Hidden Tooth Infection

There is a close relationship between gum disease and alopecia, a type of hair loss which has an unknown origin. Alopecia starts with bald patches on the scalp and sometimes in other areas of the body.

Research by professors Jose Antonio Gil Montoya and Antonio Cutando Soriano of the University of Granada advises that when patients notice a localised hair loss occurring, they visit their dentist for a full oral check up.

With Alopecia, hair grows back in most patients after several months. However, for some the condition can recur.

Until the research at the UGR, establishing for the first time a link between alopecia and dental disease, origins for Alopecia were not well known. The affected hair follicles are mistakenly attacked by the immune system. Some of the factors that cause alopecia are genetics, non-specific immune reactions and emotional stress.

"We have found that bald patches caused by tooth infection are not always in the same place. They normally appear on a line projected from the dental infection and can thus can be located on the face at the level of the maxillary teeth, above a line through the lip-angle to the scalp, beard, or even to the eyebrow. Nevertheless, they can also be located far from infection outbreak," explained Gil Montoya and Cutando Soriano.

Intriguing research has suggested that supplementation with saw palmetto may prove useful in managing hair loss. One study sought to examine saw palmetto's affect in treating androgenic alopecia. 19 participants were given 200mg of saw palmetto twice a day for 4.6 months. The participants were then asked to evaluate changes with respect to current satisfaction with their hair. 60% of study subjects werre rated as improved at their final visit.

So if you notice a little hair loss maybe visit the dentist to see if you may have a hidden tooth problem! 

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of Granada.