Clinical condition of the oral cavity in overweight and obese patients

The increasing prevalence of both obesity and periodontal disease in adults has raised interest among researchers in a correlation between these conditions. Obesity is caused by a poorly balanced diet, rich in sugars, that leads to the accumulation of excessive amounts of plaque, which results in the development of gingivitis, periodontitis and caries. It is known that there is a correlation between these 2 disease entities, but the mechanisms of the interaction have not been explored to date. Thus, attempts to address this research question seem justified.

The aim of the study was to compare selected parameters of dental and periodontal health as well as the oral hygiene status between overweight/obese adults and a control group. Additionally, eating habits and other factors affecting obesity in adults were examined in comparison with the control group on the basis of a self-developed questionnaire.

The study included 120 adult patients (men and women), aged 19-55 years, divided into a study group of 60 overweight/obese individuals and a control group of 60 individuals with a normal weight based on the body mass index (BMI). The study involved anthropometric measurements (BMI, waist circumference - WC and hip circumference - HC) and dental examination, including dental caries examination (the decayed, missing and filled teeth index - DMF), oral hygiene assessment (the approximal plaque index - API) and periodontal tissue examination (pocket depth - PD, clinical attachment level - CAL, bleeding on probing - BOP, and the community periodontal index - CPI). Sociomedical examination was performed taking into account dietary and hygienic habits.

The group with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 was found to have worse parameters of periodontal health and unsatisfactory oral hygiene status as compared to the control group. This group also presented lower regularity of eating meals and a higher rate of sweets consumption.

Lower regularity of eating meals and higher sweets consumption, combined with poor hygiene habits, are reflected in increased rates of gum inflammation and plaque accumulation as well as worsened periodontal tissue status. A positive correlation between periodontal disease and BMI points to the need to arrange for periodontal disease prevention and treatment among overweight and obese patients.