Dental health plays a significant role in overall well-being, yet many people overlook its connection to other bodily functions. While issues like toothaches or gum disease are commonly associated with pain and discomfort, their impact on weight is frequently underestimated. One surprising impact of dental issues is unintentional weight loss. But why does this happen? Dental problems can interfere with your ability to chew, eat, and digest food properly. When left untreated, these issues can reduce your calorie intake, affect nutrient absorption, and lead to a noticeable drop in weight.
The Role of Dental Health in Nutrition
Dental health plays a crucial role in maintaining proper nutrition. When you experience dental issues, it can hinder your ability to chew food properly, leading to inadequate nutrition. Healthy teeth allow proper chewing and nutrient absorption, which is essential for maintaining a healthy body weight.
Common Dental Problems That Lead to Weight Loss
Several dental issues can contribute to unintentional weight loss. These problems often make eating difficult or painful, leading to changes in dietary habits and reduced food intake.
Dental Pain
Dental pain is one of the primary reasons individuals with oral health issues experience weight loss and one of the most common reasons people lose weight unintentionally. Conditions like tooth decay, cavities, abscesses, and gum infections can make eating painful or uncomfortable. Severe tooth pain makes eating a chore. Even when you do eat, you might choose foods that require less chewing, such as soups, smoothies, or mashed potatoes. While these foods can be part of a healthy diet, they may not provide the full range of nutrients your body needs. For example, individuals with tooth sensitivity might avoid hot, cold, or crunchy foods, which often contain essential nutrients like protein, fiber, and healthy fats.
Missing Teeth
Missing teeth can lead to significant dietary changes. If you’re missing one or more teeth, you might avoid foods that are difficult to chew, such as meats, raw vegetables, or nuts. These foods are often high in essential nutrients like protein, vitamins, and minerals. Missing teeth can make chewing difficult, leading to changes in your diet.
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Gum Disease
Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is an infection of the gums that can cause significant discomfort. As the disease progresses, it can lead to swollen, tender gums that bleed easily. Gum disease can cause pain and swelling in your gums, making it uncomfortable to eat. Additionally, gum disease is often accompanied by bad breath and a bad taste in the mouth, which can further reduce your desire to eat.
Poorly Fitted Dental Appliances
Dental appliances like dentures, bridges, and implants are designed to restore function and appearance, but if they don’t fit properly, they can cause significant discomfort. Poorly fitted appliances can lead to sores, infections, and difficulty in chewing.
The Impact of Dieting on Oral Health
Embarking on a new diet? You’ve probably got your waistline, not your teeth, in mind. But weight-loss diets can have a major impact on your oral health. Find out how popular dieting strategies can affect your mouth. Eating a diet low in fat can interfere with the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, such as A, D, E and K. Vitamin D is especially important for oral health - it helps the body absorb calcium. What’s more, fat helps your brain produce dopamine, a chemical neurotransmitter that improves your mood. When your diet lacks omega-3 fatty acids, your stress and anxiety will increase. Finally, manufacturers often add sugar to reduced-fat products to maintain taste and texture. It may seem harmless to survive on only fruits - and maybe vegetables - for a week or so, but such a limited diet can have consequences for your mouth and body. When you’re on a low- or no-carb diet, one way you can tell it’s working is if your breath starts to smell like nail polish remover. You can get rid of keto-breath by drinking more water, brushing your teeth and tongue regularly and chewing on natural breath fresheners like parsley and mint. Not surprisingly, though, the most effective way to freshen your breath again is by eating carbs. And that may not be a bad idea, considering high levels of ketones can induce ketoacidosis, an illness in which your blood levels grow dangerously acidic. By cutting down your salivary flow, diet pills leave you with a dry mouth and host of oral health problems. Saliva is a natural defense against decay. Not only does it contain cavity-fighting chemicals, it also helps physically wash away food and bacteria.
The Systemic Effects of Oral Infections
Oral infections such as gum disease (periodontitis) or abscesses can trigger systemic inflammation in the body. In addition, the body expends more energy to fight off infections, which can increase metabolism and lead to further calorie loss. A lingering tooth infection can do more than cause pain and swelling. It can also lead to decreased appetite and systemic health issues. In severe cases, infections can spread, triggering inflammation in the body that further disrupts metabolism and eating habits. If untreated, gum disease doesn’t just impact oral health-it can lead to systemic issues like heart disease and diabetes, both of which can also influence weight.
Psychological Factors
People with dental problems may develop psychological stress or anxiety around eating, especially in social settings. Chronic pain can lead to stress, anxiety, and even depression, which are known to decrease appetite and lead to weight loss. The psychological impact of dental issues should not be underestimated. Chronic pain, missing teeth, and gum disease can lead to feelings of embarrassment, low self-esteem, and social withdrawal. These emotional factors can decrease your appetite and lead to weight loss. Addressing the psychological impact of dental problems is as important as treating the physical symptoms.
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Addressing Dental Problems to Prevent Weight Loss
Preventing weight loss caused by dental issues requires a proactive approach to oral health and nutrition.
Prompt Dental Treatment
Address dental pain, infections, or missing teeth promptly by visiting a dentist. Seek prompt treatment for dental issues such as tooth pain, missing teeth, or gum disease. If you experience discomfort with your dental appliances, it’s important to see your dentist as soon as possible. They can adjust the fit or recommend alternatives to restore comfort and function. If missing teeth or alignment issues are preventing proper chewing, consider dental solutions like dentures, implants, or orthodontic treatments. Dental implants are a common solution for missing teeth. They can restore your ability to chew properly, allowing you to enjoy a full range of foods and maintain a healthy diet. If you’re looking for dental implants near you, consult with your dentist to see if they’re the right option for you. Oral infections require immediate attention to prevent systemic complications.
Nutritional Support
Work with a nutritionist to develop a diet plan that ensures you’re getting the nutrients you need. If you struggle to maintain proper nutrition due to dental issues, consider consulting a dietitian. Consider switching to a soft food diet that is dense in nutrients. Protein is necessary for maintaining muscle mass and physical health. Sugary foods and beverages can produce harmful bacteria, increasing tooth decay and intensifying dental issues.
Mental Health Support
If dental issues have affected your mental health, consider seeking counseling or support.
Hydration
Hydration is crucial, especially if inflammation is present. Drink plenty of water throughout the day to stay hydrated. Hydration is important for the whole body to function properly.
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Regular Dental Checkups
Preventing dental problems before they become severe is the best way to avoid weight loss. Schedule regular check-ups with your dentist to address any dental issues early to minimize complexities. It’s crucial to visit your dentist no matter if you’re wearing dentures or if you still have a complete set of natural teeth.
Tips to Maintain Oral Health and Prevent Involuntary Weight Loss
To prevent bad breath, seniors should ask their doctor if their medication can be switched for one that doesn’t cause dry mouth. You should also drink plenty of water and try chewing sugar-free gum. Some of these include red wine, soda, tea, coffee, candy, and sweets. Instead, eat cheese, which increases saliva in the mouth to keep it hydrated. Brush your teeth gently with a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste at least twice daily. Floss daily to remove food particles and plaque between your teeth. Your dentist can recommend treatments such as dental implants, bridges, or dentures to restore function and improve your ability to eat. Follow these tips to take care of your oral health to prevent involuntary weight loss.
The Connection Between BMI and Oral Health
Background: Basal metabolic index (BMI) is a unique anthropometric indicator used to define the relative amount of body fat on an individual’s frame. There are many diseases and conditions associated with obesity and underweight. Recent research trials suggest that there is a significant association between oral health indicators and BMI as both are attributed to common risk factors such as dietary, genetic, socioeconomic, and lifestyle issues. Objectives: The main objective of this review paper is to emphasize the association between BMI and oral health with available literature evidence. Methodology: A literature search was conducted using multiple databases comprising of MEDLINE (via PubMed), EMBASE, and Web of Science. The terms used for the search were “body mass index”, “periodontitis”, “dental caries”, and “tooth loss”. Results: In total, 2839 articles were obtained from the analysis of the databases. Unrelated articles from the available full text of 1135 articles were excluded. The main reasons for excluding the articles were: they were dietary guidelines and policy statements. A total of 66 studies were finally included in the review. Conclusion: The presence of dental caries, periodontitis and tooth loss may be associated with a higher BMI or obesity, whereas, improved oral health might be associated with lower BMI. Keywords: basal metabolic index, dental caries, inflammation, obesity, oral health, periodontitis1. In the modern era, the most challenging community health issue is the growing number of overweight and obese individuals [1]. A recent study showed that between 1980 and 2014, the prevalence of obesity and overweight increased globally [2]. It is interesting to note that the WHO estimated that almost 2.5 billion persons over the age of 18 suffer from obesity and overweight in 2014 [2]. This is around a third of the entire world’s population [2,3]. Between nations and regions within nations, the incidence varies greatly. Men are more likely to be overweight than women, while women are more likely to be obese [3]. In addition, obesity is currently ranked as the fifth biggest cause of death globally and the risk of death increases by 20-40% in overweight individuals, and it escalates to 200-400% in obese individuals. Obesity has been linked to a number of illnesses, including heart disease, musculoskeletal problems, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and several cancers such as breast, prostate, liver, and colon cancer [6,7]. This adds to the burden of medical costs for obese individuals that are found to be 30% greater than for normal-weight peers [8]. Body mass index (BMI) is one particular anthropometric measure that is used to describe the relative amount of body fat in an individual’s frame [10]. BMI was introduced by a Belgian astronomer, mathematician, and statistician named Adolphe Quetelet in 1835 and it was previously referred to as the Quetelet’s index [11]. It has always been considered as a simple method for analysis of the nutritional status and has been in use since the mid-19th century [10,12]. It is determined by multiplying the weight in kilograms by the square of the height in meters, and is represented in kilograms per square meter (kg/m2) [10,13]. According to the WHO, BMI can be divided into four categories for all adult age groups: underweight, normal, overweight, and obese [14]. It has been found that people with BMI in the normal range typically have a quick metabolism, as opposed to obese people, who typically have a slower resting metabolic rate. This is because obese people tend to have more muscle mass, which increases resting metabolic rate [13]. Dental caries, periodontitis, and tooth loss are typical illnesses caused by poor oral health [17]. As both are linked to shared risk factors such diet (consumption of sugary drinks, and snacks), hereditary, socioeconomic, and lifestyle changes, recent research studies reveal that there is a considerable correlation between oral health indicators and BMI [18]. The occurrence of periodontitis, dental caries, and tooth loss may be linked to higher BMI, according to a new study that included individuals from the national health screening cohort in Korea from 2009 to 2010 [17]. The main objective of this review paper is to emphasize the association between BMI and oral health with available literature evidence. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the mutual risk factors associated with obesity and dental caries, periodontitis, and tooth loss.2. This review is in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) 2020 Statement in order to maintain a codified organization of the study [19] (available as a supplemental material). The search databases included MEDLINE (via PubMed), EMBASE, and Web of Science. The terms used for the search were “body mass index”, “periodontitis”, “dental caries”, and “tooth loss”. Considering the eligibility criteria, articles relevant to the topic of BMI and oral health indicators were evaluated as suitable for inclusion in this review. Only papers published within the last 5 years (30 September 2017 to 30 September 2022) and written in English language were considered. Additionally, only original papers were considered. All the studies resulting from the search strategies were imported into an Endnote library and duplicates were removed. Two reviewers (first and second author) independently assessed the records (title and abstract), selecting the articles that met the eligibility criteria. Any type of disagreement was resolved by consulting a third independent reviewer (third author). After this screening, the records selected were analyzed in their full-text version, and two other reviewers (first and second authors) independently assessed whether they should be included in the review. In case of disagreement, a third author was consulted (third author). PRISMA flowchart of study selection process.3. In total, 2839 articles were obtained from the analysis of the databases, adopting the search strategy described in Section 2. Unrelated articles from the available full text of 1135 articles were excluded. The main reasons for excluding the articles were: they were dietary guidelines and policy statements. A total of 66 studies were finally included in the review.4. This paper aimed at exploring an association between BMI and oral health. This review will contribute toward a better understanding of risk factors related to obesity and oral diseases. There exists a “bidirectional relationship” between oral and systemic health [20]. An individual’s overall health is influenced by their oral health that is related to preserving the health of the perioral tissues, craniofacial complex, periodontal tissues, and dentition [20]. Urbanization and modernization, along with unfavorable dietary changes aimed at increasing consumption of fat and sugar while reducing intake of roughage, have all contributed to the development of unhealthy eating habits. The oral health suffers as a result, and the BMI rises [21]. Dental caries, which affects between 60% and 90% of school children and the majority of adults worldwide, is the most common non-communicable disease and has long been regarded as the greatest global oral health burden [23,24]. Despite the availability of advanced and innovative therapeutic approaches, it remains a public health issue [25]. Dental caries is a term used to describe an irreversible microbiological condition that affects the calcified tissues of the teeth. It is characterized by demineralization of the inorganic portion and destruction of the organic section of the tooth, which frequently results in cavitation [25]. Although it has a complex etiology and pathobiology, nutrition, along with dental hygiene, saliva, and oral flora, have a key influence in the initiation and advancement of caries [26]. Regarding the relationship between an individual’s BMI and the state of their dental health and hygiene, the literature has conflicting findings [28]. While some studies claimed there was no connection at all between BMI and dental caries [29,30] other studies demonstrated a significant association between overweight/obesity and high caries incidence [31,32]. Only one study with a high level of evidence, according to a systematic review done in 2006, found a direct and significant link between dental caries and obesity [33]. A meta-analysis conducted by Chen et al. highlighted that obese group of individuals had more caries than the normal-weight group in their primary teeth. Caries incidence was significantly higher among the overweight and obese children in high-income countries, but not in low- and middle-income countries. This could be attributed to the lifestyle and dietary habits [34]. In their various research, Willershausen et al. [29], Thippeswamy et al. [30], Jouhar et al. [35], Modeer et al. [36], and Khattak et al. [37] have found that obese subjects exhibit a higher number of decayed surfaces in comparison to non-obese subjects. The majority of children with caries, according to Haliti F et al., were in the healthy weight and obesity group, followed by the overweight group and the underweight group [38]. On the other hand, contradictory results were highlighted in a study conducted by Idrees et al. [4], Sede et al. [31], and Kim et al. [39] where BMI was not associated with dental caries. Similarly, Abdellatif et al. found no association between BMI categories and mean decayed missing filled index. It was concluded that BMI may be considered as a related factor and undoubtedly not a secluded risk factor for dental caries [40]. According to Americano et al., underweight or malnutrition may significantly affect tooth development, leading to poorly developed or hypomineralized dental enamel, which is a known risk factor for the occurrence of caries [41]. Obesity and caries are both largely influenced by diet, which includes consuming too many refined carbohydrates, particularly sugar in its refined form [43]. Additionally, frequent snacking has been connected to obesity and other chronic conditions. According to a study by Alswat et al., younger people with high BMI, who drank sugary drinks and led sedentary lifestyles had a higher incidence of caries [44]. The findings, according to the authors, could be explained by the fact that obese and overweight people spend more time online using social media, which suggests that a combination of a sedentary lifestyle and frequent snacking may have contributed to the weight increase. Additionally, Aljefree et al. found in their study that fewer than half of the participants in the survey consumed snacks once per day, which decreased the likelihood of gaining weight [45]. However, according to Aljuraiban et al., frequent meals have been linked statistically significantly to reduced BMI [46]. It has been identified that reducing the frequency of meals per day may have an adverse effect on appetite control [47]. There is evidence that an increase in meal frequency along with hormonal and nutritional signals can suppress appetite [48]. This results in decreased energy levels and delayed stomach emptying, which reduces the feeling of hunger [49]. Thus, there is debate concerning the relationship between a patient’s weight and their dental health state [28]. This controversy is partially related to the nature of the published studies, which primarily sampled children or teenagers under the age of 18, with only a small number of studies testing this link among adult individuals [33,50,51]. Periodontal disease has been considered as one of the extremely prevalent condition globally and is represented as a leading public health dilemma for both developing and developed society [7]. Periodontitis is defined as an inflammatory disease of the supporting tissues of teeth caused by specific microorganisms or groups of specific microorganisms, resulting in progressive destruction of the periodontal ligament and alveolar bone with periodontal pocket formation, gingival recession, or both [15]. Age, smoking, oral hygiene, socioeconomic status, genetics, race, gender, psychosocial stress, osteopenia, osteoporosis, and various other systemic diseases such as type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease are all risk factors for periodontal diseases. This means that periodontitis does not only develop as a result of plaque deposition but is also associated with various host factors that could change the outcome of the condition [7]. There are numerous mechanisms that could account for a link between obesity and periodontitis [52]. Young people who are overweight, in particular, have poor eating habits that include eating too much sugar and fat and not enough micronutrients. Such dietary habits may affect periodontal tissues. Early -life excessive weight gain, which is frequently linked to higher levels of stress, may also contribute to the promotion of periodontal disease. Diversification in the oral environment or mild chronic inflammation may be caused by an abundance of adipose tissue. In obese people, adipokines-a class of bioactive molecules-up to 50 are released by adipose cells. Leptin, adipocytokines, and adiponectin are examples of proteins that resemble hormones, whereas tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukins (IL) are examples of classical cytokines [53]. TNF-α, IL-1, and IL-6 are among the pro-inflammatory cytokines produced as a result of the increased macrophages and adipocytes. Increased production of these pro-inflammatory cytokines effects the host susceptibility towards the evolution and advancement of periodontal diseases since the release of inflammatory cytokines is directly associated with a higher vulnerability to bacterial infection [54]. Insulin resistance is another potential link between obesity and periodontal disease. Dietary-free fatty acids contribute to both insulin resistance and obesity by causing abolition of beta cells of pancreas. Insulin resistance thus contributes to a generalized hyperinflammatory condition that affects periodontal tissue [53,54]. Probable connections between periodontal diseases and obesity.Numerous research have found an association between greater BMI and periodontitis, while a small number have found no such association. Previous research by Deshpande NC et al. [7], Kim et a. [39], Al-Zahrani et al. [55], and Gulati et al. [56] found a substantial correlation between periodontitis and obesity. In a same manner, Cetin et al. discovered a statistical relationship between BMI and clinical attachment loss, probing pocket depth, plaque index, stage and grade of periodontitis, and the number of remaining teeth. It was concluded that BMI increases the risk of developing stages III and IV of periodontitis [57]. A study conducted by Chen et al. on a large population-based dataset in Taiwan revealed that patients who were obese had…
Dental Problems in the Elderly and Weight Loss
Aging comes with the deterioration of bones, muscles, and one’s dental health. In a study involving a hundred elderly patients, it was found that general oral health problems were the cause of significant weight loss within one year. Moreover, it was revealed that poor dental health had more impact on involuntary weight loss among the elderly than any other factor such as household income, age, or nutrient intake. Studies have shown that involuntary weight loss among seniors aged 65 and older can lead to gastrointestinal disease, psychiatric conditions, and an increased risk of death. Poor oral health is just one of the reasons why seniors lose weight, but other factors such as medication effects, emotional problems, lack of access to food, and loss of ability to feed oneself can also contribute to significant weight loss. If you’re a senior, one of the things that you may have to deal with is tooth loss. According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, 27.27% of seniors over the age of 65 have no remaining teeth. Meanwhile, those who do have teeth have an average of 18.90 remaining teeth. You’ll also notice that your teeth look discolored, and you may or may not experience having bad breath due to a dry mouth. This can be caused by taking certain medications, and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 400 commonly used medications can contribute to dry mouth.
When to Seek Professional Help
If you notice significant weight loss accompanied by persistent oral pain, swelling, or difficulty eating, it’s essential to consult a dentist immediately. Unexplained weight loss should never be ignored. If you’re losing weight without trying and also dealing with oral pain, swelling, or difficulty chewing, it’s best to seek professional care. Visit Dr. Ahmad Millwala at Travis Oral Surgery. Our Maxillofacial surgeon specializes in facial trauma and office-based procedures such as tooth extractions, bone grafting, and dental implant placement.