Can Staying Slim Help Fight Against Gum Disease?

While it may sound like an unrealistic connection, one recent study may have just suggested that staying slim can help individuals fight off the development of gum disease. This study, performed by the Harvard School of Public Health, indicated that overweight adults could have a greater risk of developing gum disease compared to individuals with proportionally normal weights. Monik Jimenez, a doctoral candidate who led the study, studied possible connections between periodontal disease, among the more common oral health illnesses, and excess weight.

Periodontal Disease

Cases of periodontal disease (or gum disease) are classified based on the condition’s severity, with the two main stages being periodontitis and gingivitis. Per the ADA, gingivitis is the milder and more reversible form of this condition, as it affects only the gums. However, if left untreated, gingivitis could develop into more severe forms of gum disease, such as periodontitis, which can lead to the loss of one or more teeth.

A 16-Year Study

Jimenez’s team examined data from 37,000 male patients who volunteered for the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study, which is an HSPH study backed by the National Institutes of Health that has followed more than 51,000 health professionals ever since the year 1986.

All patients were free of diseases when the study began and were surveyed for about 16 years between 1986 and 2002. The researching team collected specific information, including the patients’ weight, height, hip and waist measurements, as well as their self-reported periodontal disease diagnoses.

Jimenez stated, "Obesity was associated with a 29 percent increased risk of periodontal disease over the course of the study" when compared to individuals of proportionally normal weight. Jimenez’s team used the textbook definition for obesity—that being a body-mass index of 30 or more.

"This is one of the first, if not the first, study demonstrating such a significant relationship in such a large group of people," says Frank Hu, who is a professor of both epidemiology and nutrition with the Harvard School of Public Health.

A Possible Cause

Jimenez and the researchers on her team stated that they believe this newfound link is nurtured by adipokines, which are inflammatory chemicals discharged by the body’s fatty tissue. Raised levels of adiposity, which is measured by greater waist-to-hip ratios, result in the intensified production of cytokines, which, per Hu, are believed to foster periodontal disease. With a link possibly being established between gum disease and obesity, individuals can hopefully find further encouragement to reclaim their overall health in addition to their oral health.

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