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A recent review1 has linked obesity with an increased risk of periodontitis, adding to the list of health concerns connected to being grossly overweight.

Both diseases are associated with inflammatory processes: adipose tissues secrete chemical mediators of inflammation and gum disease similarly produces cytokines, inflammatory proteins. Research suggests that as obese bodies continually produce these chemicals, raising the level of inflammatory proteins in the body, obesity promotes the development of other inflammatory diseases such as periodontitis. It is unclear whether increased cytokines in the bloodstream directly injure gum tissues or simply modify the response of the periodontal tissues to the oral environment. Progressive inflammation around infected tissues can cause gum to lose its attachment to teeth and result in bone loss. Further studies are therefore required to discern if there is a direct causal relationship between obesity and gum disease.

Dr Ronnie Levine OBE highlighted the growing challenge obesity poses to dentistry in a recent BDJ article,2 not just with regard to gum disease and clinical indications but with respect to the practical aspect of treating overweight individuals in the conventional primary care setting. Moreover, health conditions associated with obesity such as Type 2 diabetes can also negatively impact on oral health and are associated with periodontitis.

By Laura Pacey