The relationship between body mass index and oral health status among Saudi adults: a cross-sectional study

To assess the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and the sum of decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT), periodontal pockets, and oral soft tissue variations.

A systematic sample of 250 people attending King Abdulaziz Medical City was included. The study was conducted using questionnaires and clinical examinations. Questionnaires were prepared to include socio-demographic, smoking, oral hygiene, medical and physical variables. Clinical examination included DMFT, pocket depths and soft tissues changes. BMI was calculated as kg/m² using height and weight. Analyses included descriptive statistics, ANOVA, Chi-square and logistic regression.

Participants mean age was 35.3 years (18-83 years), and about 60% were females. The mean BMI was 28.24. Two thirds (67%) of participants were overweight (BMI=25.0-29.9kg/m²) or obese (BMI⟩30kg/m²). Mean DMFT correlated with BMI (p=0.005). However, periodontal pocket depths were not associated with increased BMI. In the bivariate analyses, there were associations between BMI and age, education, smoking, tooth brushing, hypertension, diabetes, use of medication and traumatic ulcer. Logistic regression analysis revealed a significant relationship between BMI and DMFT in people educated to less than high school, current smokers, those with any medical problem or with edematous gingiva (P=0.026).

Participants higher BMI were more likely to have a higher DMFT score in the presence of low education, presence of edematous gingiva, smoking or a medical condition.