Dental News - Review explores relationship between obesity, diabetes and tooth loss

Dental Tribune International

Thu. 3. April 2025

save

ŌTSU, Japan: The links between diabetes, obesity and periodontal disease are well established; however, most studies on their associations have had sample sizes of fewer than 10,000 participants. This limits robust analysis of these and other risk factors of tooth loss. A narrative review by researchers at Shiga University of Medical Science in Ōtsu has leveraged large-scale national data to assess the impact of diabetes and obesity on tooth retention, offering clearer insights into the cyclical relationship between the conditions in relation to tooth loss.

The authors pointed out that the complex connections between diabetes, obesity and periodontal disease have been partially explored in previous research. Visceral fat accumulation is known to promote chronic inflammation and insulin resistance—key mechanisms in diabetes. Periodontal inflammation may further contribute to systemic insulin resistance. Despite these associations, data on tooth retention in individuals with diabetes or obesity is limited. To better understand the effects of diabetes and obesity on tooth retention, the researchers drew on a large dataset combining dental claim and health check-up data on around 230,000 individuals.

Analysis showed that higher haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and fasting glucose levels were associated with fewer remaining teeth. This inverse relationship was evident even among individuals who had not been diagnosed with diabetes and was observable from as early as 30 years of age. Site-specific analysis found that individuals in their thirties with HbA1c levels of ≥ 7% had a higher risk of posterior tooth loss than those with better glycaemic control. In individuals in their forties and fifties, this trend extended to adjacent and anterior teeth. The researchers said that these findings suggest that inadequate glycaemic control contributes to early posterior tooth loss and that greater tooth loss develops over time.

The combined effects of tobacco use, obesity and diabetes on periodontal disease

The review found that higher body mass index was associated with a progressive decline in tooth retention from age 40. Site-specific analysis also showed that smoking led to increased tooth loss, even in sites where obesity alone had not contributed to tooth loss. A machine learning study ranked both obesity and smoking among the top risk factors for periodontitis. Overall, the review reported that the risk of having fewer than 24 teeth increased by 1.47-fold in individuals with obesity and by 1.35-fold when smoking and diabetes were also considered.

Maintaining good oral hygiene supports glycaemic control in diabetes, and this in turn helps to prevent periodontal disease and tooth loss. “This bidirectional relationship is also present among individuals with obesity and those with metabolic syndrome,” the researchers wrote. They recommended smoking cessation and regular dental visits for at-risk individuals and screening for metabolic conditions in patients with periodontal disease.

Addressing interconnected factors

According to the researchers, the large-scale medical data used in the study yielded important insights into the relationships between the conditions and holds promise for further applications and research. “The findings, supported by previous reports, emphasise the importance of addressing the interconnected cycle of diabetes, obesity, and periodontal disease as a key strategy to prevent tooth loss,” the researchers concluded.

Editorial note:

The study, titled “The relationship among obesity, diabetes, and oral health: A narrative review of real-world evidence”, was published online on 18 January 2025 in Current Oral Health Reports.

Topics:

General Dentistry

Tags:

Dental research Diabetes Obesity Periodontal diease Tooth loss

To post a reply please login or register

Put your money where your mouth is: EFP calls to unite in prevention

Oral health, being a cornerstone of well-being, is a critical factor in public health systems. The substantial economic burden of managing oral disease has ...

Functional dentistry spotlights the importance of the oral microbiome

LONDON, England: The inextricable relationship between a person’s oral and overall health has the potential to radically transform the dental industry and...

World Diabetes Day: Addressing the vital link between periodontal disease and diabetes

VIENNA, Austria: On this World Diabetes Day, the European Federation of Periodontology (EFP) calls attention to the growing body of scientific evidence that...

“Peri-implantitis can be prevented entirely”

Long-term studies conducted at leading universities in Europe have reached the groundbreaking conclusion that, with the Patent Dental Implant System, ...

“Addressing the oral disease burden requires collaboration and partnerships”

At the forefront of innovative approaches to healthcare, Haleon is making significant strides in integrating oral healthcare with broader medical care. ...

Study finds UK sugar reduction policies have been only partially successful

LONDON, UK: The government of the United Kingdom and Great Britain and Northern Ireland has made headlines over the past decade for policies focused on ...

Lipid metabolism and maternal weight influence orofacial cleft risk in infants

KHON KAEN, Thailand: Orofacial clefts (OFCs) occur at a slightly higher rate in Asia than elsewhere—1.6 cases per 1,000 live births compared with one in...

Kidney function is associated with tooth loss in postmenopausal women

CLEVELAND, US: The menopause is marked by alterations in reproductive hormone levels, and this can have adverse effects on bone health. Since chronic kidney...

Education

Live webinar
Wed. 23 April 2025
2:00 pm EST (New York)