Periodontitis, a chronic inflammatory disease of the oral mucosa, is epidemiologically linked to various chronic inflammatory disorders, including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, Alzheimer's disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and certain cancers. Recent studies suggest that local treatment of periodontitis can improve surrogate markers of comorbid conditions. Experimental animal studies have identified biologically plausible mechanisms linking periodontitis to comorbidities, such as the dissemination of periodontal bacteria and inflammatory mediators to extra-oral tissues, leading to inflammatory complications. The inflammatory response of the host and the microbiome interact in a complex manner, contributing to the development of comorbidities. Periodontitis is associated with systemic inflammation, which can increase the risk of comorbid conditions. Periodontal bacteria can disseminate to extra-oral sites, causing inflammation and functional complications. Systemic diseases like type 2 diabetes can also promote periodontitis by increasing inflammatory burden on the periodontium or modulating the periodontal microbiome. The relationship between periodontitis and comorbidities is likely reciprocal, with periodontitis influencing comorbid conditions and vice versa. Periodontitis is linked to systemic inflammation, which can lead to metabolic and inflammatory alterations. Periodontal bacteria can cause low-grade systemic inflammation, which may influence the development of comorbidities. Periodontal treatment can reduce systemic inflammatory markers and improve comorbid disease activity. The mechanisms linking periodontitis to comorbidities are consistent with clinical observations, including bacteraemias, low-grade systemic inflammation, and the ability of local periodontal treatment to attenuate systemic inflammatory markers. Periodontitis is associated with systemic inflammation, which can lead to metabolic and inflammatory alterations. Periodontal bacteria can cause low-grade systemic inflammation, which may influence the development of comorbidities. Periodontal treatment can reduce systemic inflammatory markers and improve comorbid disease activity. The mechanisms linking periodontitis to comorbidities are consistent with clinical observations, including bacteraemias, low-grade systemic inflammation, and the ability of local periodontal treatment to attenuate systemic inflammatory markers.Periodontitis, a chronic inflammatory disease of the oral mucosa, is epidemiologically linked to various chronic inflammatory disorders, including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, Alzheimer's disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and certain cancers. Recent studies suggest that local treatment of periodontitis can improve surrogate markers of comorbid conditions. Experimental animal studies have identified biologically plausible mechanisms linking periodontitis to comorbidities, such as the dissemination of periodontal bacteria and inflammatory mediators to extra-oral tissues, leading to inflammatory complications. The inflammatory response of the host and the microbiome interact in a complex manner, contributing to the development of comorbidities. Periodontitis is associated with systemic inflammation, which can increase the risk of comorbid conditions. Periodontal bacteria can disseminate to extra-oral sites, causing inflammation and functional complications. Systemic diseases like type 2 diabetes can also promote periodontitis by increasing inflammatory burden on the periodontium or modulating the periodontal microbiome. The relationship between periodontitis and comorbidities is likely reciprocal, with periodontitis influencing comorbid conditions and vice versa. Periodontitis is linked to systemic inflammation, which can lead to metabolic and inflammatory alterations. Periodontal bacteria can cause low-grade systemic inflammation, which may influence the development of comorbidities. Periodontal treatment can reduce systemic inflammatory markers and improve comorbid disease activity. The mechanisms linking periodontitis to comorbidities are consistent with clinical observations, including bacteraemias, low-grade systemic inflammation, and the ability of local periodontal treatment to attenuate systemic inflammatory markers. Periodontitis is associated with systemic inflammation, which can lead to metabolic and inflammatory alterations. Periodontal bacteria can cause low-grade systemic inflammation, which may influence the development of comorbidities. Periodontal treatment can reduce systemic inflammatory markers and improve comorbid disease activity. The mechanisms linking periodontitis to comorbidities are consistent with clinical observations, including bacteraemias, low-grade systemic inflammation, and the ability of local periodontal treatment to attenuate systemic inflammatory markers.