Higher haemoglobin levels are associated with impaired periodontal status.

Aim: Cellular oxygen sensing mechanisms have been linked to periodontal condition, and levels of haemoglobin (Hb) (the main carrier of oxygen) can be used as a surrogate measure for hypoxia. We aimed to examine relations between Hb levels and key periodontal health parameters in a general population.

Materials And Methods: The population comprised 1711 (47% male) subjects from the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966, for whom an oral health examination was carried out at 46 years of age and whose Hb levels were within the Finnish reference values.