POMC and periodontal disorder: The biological plausibility for this relationship is based on the understanding that chronic stress results in the activation of the central nervous system, which in turn stimulates the pituitary glands to release the adrenocorticotropic hormone, which activates the adrenal cortex to release cortisol, also known as the stress hormone, which results in decreased immunity, enhancing the likelihood of infections such as periodontal disease.