Important support for the oral/sytemic disease link came recently from a Columbia University study. The study found that people with periodontal disease were more likely to have increased levels of inflammation. This inflammation has been shown to be a significant risk factor in Cardiovascular disease. Studies have shown that treatment of periodontal disease will reduce the risk factors (inflammatory mediators circulating in the blood stream). The Columbia University study involved 421 individuals and the results were published in the American Journal of Cardiology.