Obesity increases risk of tooth loss, study shows

There is a clear link between obesity and tooth loss, a study involving more than 200,000 people has shown. 

A study has confirmed that the higher the BMI, the greater the risk of tooth loss.

The cross-sectional study, which looked at 200,000 participants, examined BMI, tooth retention, tooth location and age.

It found that the higher the BMI, the greater the risk of tooth loss – especially for adults over 40 years old.

As a result, the research has highlighted the importance of weight loss, early dental visits, and treatment of periodontal disease and dental cavities in those who are obese.

Dentistry’s top stories

• Adult ADHD and dentistry – are we doing enough?
• ‘He pushes me and starts punching me in the face’ – are dentists being targeted by organised gangs?
• Private Dentistry Awards 2022 – the finalists
• NASDAL reports a sharp decrease in practice goodwill
• 90 seconds with…Hajara Saleh Bade.

Research findings

The study also found:

• A higher BMI had a clear link with fewer residual teeth for adults over 40
• Obese people lost more teeth, especially their posterior teeth, compared to non-obese people
• Obese people had significantly fewer molars and maxillary central incisors
• Smoking habits combined with obesity increased the risk of tooth loss. The positions of these teeth were different from those solely affected by obesity
• Obesity is a risk factor for tooth loss regardless of gender, age and smoking habits.

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

They analysed the relationship between BMI and the number of teeth in each age group.

They then compared the tooth loss between obese (people with a BMI more than 25) and non-obese people using health insurance claims and health check-up data.

Tooth loss prevention

Due to the study results, the researchers have highlighted a number of measures to prevent tooth loss.

For example, they stated that losing weight and quitting smoking are essential to lowering the risk of tooth loss in the obese.

Early prevention of periodontal disease and dental caries, which directly cause tooth loss, is also important.

As well as this, appropriate oral care should be provided – especially for back teeth which have a higher risk of loss.

These preventative measures, combined with chewing food well and having good dietary habits, will help promote general teeth, the research showed.

Follow Dentistry.co.uk on Instagram to keep up with all the latest dental news and trends.