Use Of Water Softening Systems Increases Risk of Periodontitis.

The objective of this study was to examine the association amongst water softness, risk for periodontitis, and smoking status.A retrospective analysis of the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) in the US was undertaken. Participants were asked if they had a water softening system and their risk for periodontitis was examined. The researchers found that subjects who answered the question 'yes' to soft water use had a significantly higher risk of periodontitis (p<0.05). When mineral intake from foods was added to the model, the significance of periodontitis risk remained the same for the non-smoking, soft water-using subjects, whereas for the smoking, soft water-using subjects the risk for periodontitis increased significantly (p<0.05) in most cases. The researchers concluded that the use of water 'softening and conditioning systems' significantly increased the risk for periodontitis, and smoking increased this risk.

Read the full report in the Journal of Periodontal Research: Volume 39, Issue 6, Page 367 Dec 2004.

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