Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41973052›Full record

ArticleJournal of periodontology2026

Association between self-reported oral symptoms and irritable bowel syndrome: A prospective cohort study based on UK Biobank.

Zhuoya Sun, Laifu Li, Yan Zhuang, Xiaoting Hu, Jiamiao Chen, Shiwei Lu, Fei Dai

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of periodontology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Zhuoya SunDepartment of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0002-7295-2900
Laifu LiDepartment of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0001-2208-2903
Yan ZhuangDepartment of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0006-3909-5889
Xiaoting HuDepartment of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0001-8918-3274
Jiamiao ChenDepartment of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0009-0228-2703
Shiwei LuDepartment of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0007-5516-022X
Fei DaiDepartment of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8992-3079

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAlthough periodontal disease (PD) has been linked to an increased risk of several gastrointestinal diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease and celiac disease, research on the association between PD and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is still insufficiently explored, with conflicting results. We aimed to investigate the potential association between self-reported oral symptoms and IBS based on the UK Biobank cohort.

methodsOral symptoms were assessed via questionnaire. Participants reporting at least one of gum pain, gum bleeding, or loose teeth were classified as being at high risk of PD. The primary outcome was incident IBS. Cox proportional hazards regression, incorporating multiple covariates, was applied to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) in examining the links between oral symptoms, high PD risk, and IBS incidence. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were conducted.

resultsThis longitudinal cohort study was conducted among 420,371 participants, 8642 incident cases of IBS (2.1%) were identified. Cox regression analyses showed that several oral symptoms, including mouth ulcers, gum pain, gum bleeding, toothache, and denture use, were significantly associated with an increased risk of IBS. No significant association was observed between loose teeth and IBS in any model. Compared with the low PD risk group, individuals at high risk of PD had an elevated likelihood of IBS onset (HR = 1.19, 95% CI: 1.13-1.25). Subgroup and sensitivity analyses strengthened the validity of these findings.

conclusionOral symptoms (mouth ulcers, gum pain, gum bleeding, toothache, and denture use) and high risk of PD were both associated with an increased incidence of IBS. Incorporating oral health management into comprehensive strategies may contribute to the prevention of IBS. PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY: There is a close connection between oral health and gut health. This long-term study of more than 420,000 UK adults found that individuals experiencing mouth ulcers, gum pain, gum bleeding, toothache, or denture use had a higher risk of developing irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) later in life. Additionally, participants classified as being at high risk for periodontal disease (PD; those with at least one symptom of gum pain, gum bleeding, or loose teeth) had about a 19% higher risk of developing IBS compared with the low PD risk group. Therefore, incorporating active management of oral problems into personal health practices could offer a new perspective for IBS prevention. Caring for oral health is not just about maintaining local wellness but is a crucial part of overall bodily health.

Indexed as

Irritable Bowel SyndromeMouth DiseasesPeriodontal DiseasesSelf ReportAdultAgedCohort StudiesFemaleHumansIncidenceLongitudinal StudiesMaleMiddle AgedProportional Hazards ModelsProspective StudiesRisk Factorscohort studyirritable bowel syndromeperiodontal diseaseUK Biobank

Identifiers

PMID41973052
PMCPMC13502421

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.