Obesity and overweight increase the risk of health problems such as hypertension, Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disorders. But it would seem that being overweight also has an impact on dental health. An epidemiological study of 160 overweight or obese patients in Thailand suggests thatexcess weightexposes you to an increased risk of dental infections such as periodontitisan inflammation of the supporting tissues of the tooth.
For the purposes of the study, the dental and periodontal health of the participants were examined by an oral medicine specialist, who carried out a diagnosis of oral mucosal disorders. Blood tests as well as dental x-rays were performed on the panel.
Patients with obesity (body mass index greater than 30) had almost 6 times the risk of severe periodontitis compared to people of normal weight. In those who were overweight, the risk of dental inflammation was more than tripled compared to subjects withBMI normal. Thais who were overweight or obese also had higher levels of inflammation markers in their blood.
The importance of good oral hygiene
The results of this study published in the Oral diseases journalgo further than the work done so far on the relationship between excess weight and oral disease. “No previous study had explored all diseases of the dental, periodontal and oral mucosa in relation to blood profile and inflammatory markers in obese or overweight people,” observed the team of Dr. Supanee Thanakun from the Mahidol University in Bangkok (Thailand).
Of infectious origin, periodontal disease affects and destroys the supporting tissues of the teeth (gum and bone), recalls the French Union of Oral Health (UFSBD). This pathology, which often sets in around the age of 30, can be stabilized with a good oral hygiene but it cannot be cured.
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