Insufficient intake of a component found in red coloured fruits such as tomatoes was associated with a ‘significantly higher risk’ of severe gum disease in a new study.
Dietary lycopene is a carotenoid commonly found in fruits with a red hue such as tomatoes, watermelon and grapefruit. Researchers found that a lack of dietary lycopene was associated with a much greater risk of severe periodontitis among adults aged 65 to 79.
Nearly half (48.7%) of the older adults included in the study had some level of periodontitis, while more than three quarters (77.9%) were not consuming enough dietary lycopene.
After adjusting for contributing factors such as age, sex, race and smoking status, the study found that those who consumed enough lycopene were one third as likely to develop severe periodontitis.
The researchers also found disparities in disease risk by demographic. For example, severe gum disease was more common among men and non-Hispanic Black adults.
Have any other fruits been linked with oral health benefits?
In 2025, a study found that a compound derived from apple peel was effective against periodontal disease.
Morin is a natural extract found in guava leaves, apple and fig peels, certain teas and almonds. Researchers from São Paulo State University found that it showed antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects when tested against bacteria that cause periodontal disease.
Study author Luciana Solera Sales said: ‘We started developing these systems in the form of tablets, films and microparticles. But until then, they were too large and unfeasible for oral use. In my PhD, we tried to improve these products by making them smaller.
‘That’s why I developed this format, which looks like powdered milk. I prepared a solution containing sodium alginate and gellan gum to encapsulate morin in a controlled-release system, which is already widely used for drugs but isn’t yet widely used in dentistry.’
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