Gum disease can lead to AIDS

An acid produced in the mouth due to gum disease invigorates the virus that can lead to full-blown AIDS, a Japanese researcher said yesterday, billing the finding as a world first.

A group of bacteria causes periodontal disease - a chronic inflammation that erodes bony structure in the gum - posing a threat to the teeth and the entire body, the researcher said.

"They produce a large amount of butyric acid, which smells like socks you wore for a long time," said Kuniyasu Ochiai, professor who chairs the Microbiology Department at Tokyo-based Nihon University.