Researchers have long speculated that autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are possibly triggered or caused by microorganisms.
Links between periodontal disease, changes in the oral and intestinal microbiome and RA have been known, but what exactly links them all has yet to be discovered.
Several studies seem to show that oral microbes may play a role in the development of RA.
One study highlighted three types of anaerobic bacteria occurring in the oral cavity that have been identified in joint fluid from people with RA.
Another analysis has shown that antibodies for certain types of bacteria are associated with periodontal disease and may play a role in the development of RA.