Obesity And Premature Tooth Loss – An Epidemiological Study

A study involving more than 200,000 patients clearly demonstrates a connection between obesity and tooth loss.

According to a study, tooth loss is more likely to occur in people with a higher BMI. The 200,000 participants in the cross-sectional study were assessed for age, BMI, tooth retention, and tooth location.

It was observed that the incidence of tooth loss increased with BMI, especially for those over 40.

This study has brought attention to how crucial it is for obese people to lose weight, visit the dentist at a young age, and get treatment for periodontal disease and dental caries.

The research also revealed the following findings:

• For those over 40, a greater BMI demonstrated a definite correlation with fewer remaining teeth.
• Compared to non-obese adults, obese people lost more teeth, especially their posterior ones.
• Significantly fewer molars and maxillary central incisors were present in obese individuals.
• The risk of tooth loss was enhanced when smoking and obesity coexisted. These teeth were not in the same places as individuals who were only affected by obesity.
• Regardless of gender, age, or smoking habits, obesity is a risk factor for tooth loss.

Doctors from the Shiga University of Medical Science collaborated with Sunstar to carry out this research.

In each age group, they examined the connection between BMI and the number of teeth. Then, using information from health insurance claims and check-ups, they compared tooth loss between obese (those with a BMI greater than 25) and non-obese individuals.

The study's findings have led the researchers to highlight a number of ways to stop tooth loss which are as follows:

• Quitting smoking and dropping weight is crucial for reducing the incidence of tooth loss in obese people.
• It's also critical to avoid dental caries and periodontal disease, two conditions that directly lead to tooth loss.
• Additionally, proper oral hygiene should be practiced, especially for the posterior teeth, which are more susceptible to oral diseases as well as premature loss.
• Good dietary habits and proper chewing of food may also help prevent the loss of teeth as well as obesity.

Obese people should be advised to visit the dentist early to treat periodontal disease and caries and to take good care of their molars with a regular oral hygiene regimen in order to prevent tooth loss and maintain good health.

Source:https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0274465