Post-menopausal women who suffer from gum disease and tooth loss may be at a higher risk of death, according to a study.

Periodontal disease, a chronic inflammatory disease of the gum and connective tissue surrounding the teeth, leads to loss of one's teeth, known as edentulism. The findings showed that women with a history of periodontal disease had with a 12 per cent higher risk of death from any cause. Loss of all natural teeth was associated with a 17 per cent higher risk of death from any cause in postmenopausal women.

"Our findings suggest that older women may be at higher risk for death because of their periodontal condition and may benefit from more intensive oral screening measures," said Michael J. LaMonte, associate professor at the University at Buffalo, US. "Besides their negative impact on oral function and dietary habits, these conditions are also thought to be related to chronic diseases of ageing," LaMonte added, in the paper published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

For the study, the team analysed 57,001 women, 55 years and older.