Obesity is becoming the hottest topic of conversation and has also been considered an epidemic in many countries. Also, an alarming association between oral health and obesity has come to light where there are straight signs of gum disease in those who have BMI of more than 30. There are some aspects of the research that makes findings somewhat unpredictable, like gender, age, genetics. However, considering a lifestyle change is always a  better choice.

The exact reason how obesity contributes to periodontal disease is yet unknown. It is believed that fat tissue (adipose) promotes the proinflammatory state. When fat cells increase in size, the entry of macrophages occur, which, in turn, stimulates the production of proinflammatory mediators that may contribute to periodontal disease. With the increased amount of adipose tissue, production of mediators get increased. Individuals with higher BMR have elevated level of proinflammatory markers like C-reactive protein, fibrinogen and leukocytes. The release of proinflammatory mediators indicates the release of acute phase proteins from the liver, like C-reactive protein, which is a marker of body inflammation.

Just like smoking and blood glucose are risk factors for developing gum disease, there are other substantial studies that identify obesity as a risk factor for gum disease. There are other studies that are required to clearly identify how gender and age may affect this. In addition to a healthy body weight, heart disease, and other associated risk factors also contribute to poor oral health.

For more information on how the possible connection between oral health and obesity may be affecting you, contact our dental team and they will be happy to answer any questions that you may have.

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