Vivek Thumbigere-Math, BDS, PhD, assistant professor, Division of Periodontics, University of Maryland School of Dentistry, is redefining oral health as a gateway to whole-body wellness. Backed by two grants from the National Institutes of Health totaling nearly $4.3 million, his team is exploring the intricate connections between our immune, intestinal, and skeletal systems — and how gum disease may drive chronic conditions like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and osteoporosis-related tooth loss.
Thumbigere-Math’s primary grant, totaling about $3.85 million, supports groundbreaking research into whether bacteria from the mouth can travel to the gut and trigger or worsen IBD — and, if we treat gum disease, can we improve intestinal health?
The answers could help many. Affecting more than 3 million Americans, IBD, including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, is a lifelong condition marked by debilitating symptoms such as abdominal pain and severe diarrhea, which can lead to hospitalization, and an increased risk for colorectal cancer.
The second grant of about $430,000 supports investigations into root resorption linked to Denosumab, a widely prescribed osteoporosis drug. While Denosumab helps prevent fractures, it may also cause adult tooth roots to deteriorate, leading to mobility and tooth loss.
Clinical data from the research team suggest that managing gum disease improves the gut microbiome and reduces intestinal inflammation. As a clinician-scientist, Thumbigere-Math treats patients, identifies patterns, and brings real-world problems into the lab while returning solutions to the clinic.
“Gum disease affects nearly 50% of adults, and it is a leading cause of tooth loss worldwide. By revealing the pathways that drive tissue breakdown — and showing how microbes from the mouth can influence distant organs — we are turning routine dental visits into opportunities to protect whole-body health.”