Obesity and oral health - Is there a link? An observational study

Periodontitis is defined as a destructive inflammatory disease involving the supporting tissues of the teeth due to specific microorganisms which results in a progressive destruction of supporting structures of the periodontium. Obesity is excessive body fat in proportion to lean body mass, to such an extent that health is impaired. Obesity, a serious public health problem, relates to a chronic low-grade systemic inflammation and is involved in the development of obesity-linked disorders including insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, dyslipidemia, and metabolic syndrome. The accurate process whereby obesity can affect periodontal health is so far unclear. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association between obesity (using body mass index [BMI] and waist circumference [WC]) and periodontal health and disease using various periodontal parameters.

A total of 100 participants were randomly taken and were divided into two groups (fifty participants per group). The participants with BMI more than 30 were considered as obese and participants with BMI <30 were considered nonobese. WC was also measured. Gingival index (GI), pocket probing depth (PPD), gingival recession (REC), and clinical attachment level (CAL) were measured by a single examiner.

Independent t-test was performed to compare GI, probing depth, gingival recession, and clinical attachment level among obese and nonobese participants. The prevalence of periodontitis was significantly more in obese as compared to nonobese group (P < 0.05 for GI, P < 0.05 for PPD, and P < 0.031 for CAL).

Strong correlation was found to exist between obesity and periodontitis. Obese participants could be at a greater risk of developing periodontal disease.