DT News - UK - British gingivae were healthier under Roman rule

Dental Tribune International

Tue. 28 October 2014

save

LONDON, UK: Much of the legacy of the Romans is still evident in Britain today. New evidence from a study by King’s College London researchers on the skulls of ancient inhabitants of the island has given reason to believe that this might not have been the case for periodontal health.

While most of the skulls examined bear evidence of infections, dental decay or extensive tooth wear, typical for a coarse-grain and cereal-rich diet, periodontal disease was largely absent. Only 5 per cent showed signs of the disease, despite the widespread lack of dental care and routine oral hygiene in Roman Britain.

According to the researchers, the findings shed more light on the negative effects of modern lifestyle habits on oral health. They also support the importance of risk factors in determining susceptibility to periodontal disease in modern society, they said.

Currently, 15 to 30 per cent of Britons are estimated to suffer from some form of periodontal disease. The most severe kind, believed to be associated with systemic conditions, such as diabetes, and factors like smoking, affects one in 15 people in the UK, according to National Health Service figures.

The researchers suggested that the prevalence of periodontal disease was low among the Roman Britons investigated in the study because the population did not smoke extensively. Tobacco was only introduced in Britain in the sixteenth century when English traders first began to import the plant from the new colonies. In recent years, the habit has been on the decline owing to a ban on smoking in public places, among other things, which could indicate a future improvement in periodontal health, according to the researchers.

“As smoking declines in the population, we should see a decline in the prevalence of the disease,” co-author Prof. Theya Molleson from the Natural History Museum in London said.

For the study, published in the British Dental Journal, the researchers examined over 300 skulls excavated from a burial ground in Poundbury in Dorset. The remains, which are part of the museum’s palaeontological collection, are of people of different ages and from different social backgrounds.

To post a reply please login or register

Sugary baby pouches under increasing critical scrutiny in the UK

LONDON, England: The commercial baby food industry powerfully shapes early childhood nutrition in the UK and globally. Despite its trusted image, its ...

Dentists under scrutiny for dental pricing

LONDON, UK: The British Dental Association has rejected the results of a new Which? study that indicate dentists are to blame for confusion about dental ...

New campaign aids families in making healthier snack choices for kids

LONDON, UK: In a new move by Public Health England (PHE), a campaign has been initiated to help parents take control of their children’s snacking. ...

UK orthodontic community set to gather at 2025 British Orthodontic Conference

NEWPORT, Wales: Organised by the British Orthodontic Society, the 2025 British Orthodontic Conference (BOC) promises to bring together the entire UK ...

British Dental Conference & Dentistry Show kicks off today in Birmingham

BIRMINGHAM, England: The 2025 British Dental Conference & Dentistry Show (BDCDS) promises to be the most inspiring and influential edition yet. Taking ...

British bad teeth myth debunked

LONDON, UK: It is commonly believed that Britons are among those with the worst teeth in the world. However, new research has now shown that oral health in ...

British dentist sentenced for fraud

LONDON, UK: A dentist from London has been ordered to pay more than £100,000 in compensation to the NHS within six months. If he fails to pay, he ...

“This brush cleans where normal bristles do not reach”

KRIENS, Switzerland: A brush that cleans where others do not? An expert in prophylaxis and periodontics, Dr Ulrich P. Saxer is the co-designer of a brush ...

Dentist under crossfire after “Prosecco smile” warning

LONDON, UK/ROME, Italy: That the consumption of sweet, carbonated and alcoholic drinks—which are all main characteristics of Prosecco—lead to tooth ...

Where periodontology has advanced

This afternoon, Prof. Mark Barthold from the University of Adelaide in Australia will be presenting a paper on periodontal medicine as part of the Asia ...

Education

Live webinar
Mon. 15 September 2025
6:00 pm UTC (London)