Obesity
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Today, approximately 1 in 3 adults is obese, nearly triple that of the obesity rates from the 1980s. Consequently, obesity impacts specific types of metabolic disorders, diabetes, and liver diseases which are more common today.
People who battle obesity are 2x more likely to develop periodontal disease, compared to people whose body weight is within a typically healthy range. The inflammation caused by fatty tissues are thought to directly impair normal metabolic function and increase swelling throughout the body, including the gum tissues.
If obesity goes unaddressed, it can contribute to additional health concerns like obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), cardiovascular disease, diabetes, stroke, and death. Such clustered health conditions are typically grouped together as a condition known as “metabolic syndrome”.
Although the relationship between obesity and periodontal disease is complex, research consistently suggests a positive correlation between the two. They are also two of the most common non-contagious diseases that we see in the United States.
When it comes to periodontal disease and obesity, both of the conditions occur in people who tend to be more prone to inflammation throughout their bodies, which in turn affects their body chemistry and metabolism. Adipose (fatty) tissue is known to secrete cytokines and hormones that contribute to body inflammation, potentially making gum disease symptoms worse.
The threat of obesity on one’s oral health can be significant. However, there is yet to be evidence that treating periodontal disease can consequently impact things like BMI or waist circumference. On the other hand, obesity plays an active part in the care plan and success rate of periodontal therapies.
Experts understand that inflammation associated with periodontal disease can directly affect co-existing health conditions. There is yet, however, specific proof to show that periodontal therapy directly affects obesity as a stand-alone medical condition. However, research has continually shown us that gum disease is directly linked to metabolic disorder cluster conditions (like cardiovascular disease and stroke), which are directly tied back to the severity of periodontal infections.