**Seoul**: A recent study revealed that elderly women suffering from kidney disease may lose a significant number of teeth, leading to difficulty in chewing and speaking.
According to media reports, a team of researchers from South Korea published their findings in the journal “Menopause” and reported that postmenopausal women with kidney disease are more than 40% more likely to have fewer than 20 teeth left. Twenty teeth is the minimum number needed for proper chewing and communication.
The researchers also noted that losing teeth in this way is associated with an increased risk of stroke and other diseases such as diabetes, thyroid disease and osteoporosis.
The lead author of the study, Dr. Ki Ho Choi, an associate professor at the School of Dentistry, South Korea National University, said their results suggest that prevention and management of mineral and bone metabolism disorders in women with chronic kidney disease is critical to preventing tooth loss.
